Winchester 94 carbine

[pinstripe]

Today a friend of mine calls me and says that his business partner has a 30-30 for sale cheap. He procedes to tell me that his partner, years ago, loaned a man some money and the man put up a 30-30 for him to hold. The man never returns to pay him so he puts the rifle in a closet and forgets about it. He tells my friend that he doesn't know the value of the gun, but he would like to sell it to get it out of his closet. He asks me if I would give him $100 for it. I told him yes, sight unseen.
I just got back from buying it. It is in surprisingly good shape. The wood only has one very small scratch and the blue is about 85% or there abouts. Some patina starting to form on the receiver.
The serial number is 359xxxx which makes it about 1972-1973 time frame.
I normally only collect milsurps, but the price was right on this one. If any of you have knowledge about the Winchester 94 carbine, could you drop me a line and let me know all about them. I'm going now to clean and lube my Winchester.

 

[Cosmoline]

I've had some '94's from that vintage. It's an underrated vintage in my opinion. It's post 64, but the '94 platform didn't suffer nearly as much as the Model 70 in those changes. I believe there are some MIM parts, but the .30-30 isn't exactly going to put a lot of stress on anything. I found my late model true Winchester '94's to function considerably better than the USRAC '94's I've owned. The late 60's and early 70's was the time period when Winchester was cranking out scores of commemorative '94's for everything from John Wayne and Crazy Horse to electrical union anniversaries! You should check to see if yours has any such markings.

As with any 94, takedown is rather complex. It will go smooth IF you go in the proper order and reverse that order on reassembly. As I discovered, if you just start unscrewing things it can become a real nightmare. Here's a good blow-by-blow:

http://www.castbullet.com/misc/tdown.htm

 

[pinstripe]

Thanks for the info cosmo

 

[Hokkmike]

Gee Pinstripe, I don't know. Sounds like a dangerous aquisition to me!

Better sell it to me before it blows up in your face.

I'll give you 20 percent more than you paid for it!







Great buy! Congrats!

 

[pinstripe]

Thank you hokkmike for the concern for my safety, but I will take my chances. I.ve been cleaning and lubeing and this rifle is looking better and better. I am smiling at the savings. I have saved enough that I may even be able to afford some ammo.
Thanks

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

You can't have too many Winchesters, especially the pre 64 ones. They are like land - the ain't making it anymore.

 

[Gustav]

Any of the Winchester 94's you come across at a reasonable price especially older ones without the silly safety are well worth getting and hanging on to.
You scored big time on a classic American icon rifle glad to see it found a good home.

 

[Mr White]

If all the parts are there, no matter what condition they're in, it was a steal for $100. I have an older (pre 64) 94 in 32 Win and its a great gun. Fairly accurate and a great 100 yd deer rifle.

My one piece of advice: Be careful when cleaning the bore. You have to clean it from the muzzle. My 94 was my father in law's and he kept the gun immaculate, so immaculate that the the muzzle was worn from cleaning. I had to get it counterbored so it would shoot decent. Killed its collector's value but it doesn't matter because I'll never sell it and when I'm gone my kids damn well better never sell it either or I'll haunt their a$$es!

 

[Malamute]

"As with any 94, takedown is rather complex......"


Actually, there isn't any real reason to ever take down a Winchester 94 unless it gets buried in mud or rusts. You can use it for a lifetime, and keep it clean, without ever taking them apart. I had an old 1920's ranch gun from Az that looked like it had been used hard all it's life and never cleaned. It was a bit gummy, but still worked. With any reasonable care they may keep going for longer than any of us will.


Avoid dry firing that 94. They will break firing pins. Otherwise they are about indestructible.

 

[toivo]

I have seen similar guns around here sell for $300 and up.