Winchester 94 help

[C Younger]

Lately I’ve got the itch to buy a Winchester 94. I’ve done quite a bit of reading on pre and post 64 manufacture dates and have come to the conclusion that I’m going to avoid anything made from 65 through the 70’s. I’ve found a model 94 with a 6000xxx serial number which should be in the early 90’s. It’s before the cross bolt or tang safety. Does anyone know if there are any major issues with 94’s made in the early 90’s? I’m mostly concerned about the sintered metal that was used after 64, but can’t find when they went back to machined steel.
If anyone has some wisdom to impart, that would be awesome. I’m gonna be at work for the next 12 hours, so won’t be able to review or respond to posts until tomorrow morning. Thanks for the help

 

[John Joseph]

No,
Get a pre-64, they're worth it.
Or get a real Marlin---not a Remlin

 

[joed]

Why would you not buy 65 thru 70's? I have a 1966 94 that I've owned for 15 years, before that a police dept owned it since new, still works great. That's over 50 years of use.

 

[C Younger]

Why would you not buy 65 thru 70's? I have a 1966 94 that I've owned for 15 years, before that a police dept owned it since new, still works great. That's over 50 years of use.

I just haven’t read great things about the sintered metal receivers. I’ve also read the date range you mention function perfectly fine. I even looked at a mid 70’s production that was beautiful. The problem I’m finding when looking at either Winchesters or Marlins is that there are a lot of purists who believe that anything after 64 for the Winchesters and anything other than JM for the Marlins are junk. It’s very difficult to separate opinions from fact on the internet. I just want to know if anyone has had any issues with early 90’s Winchesters and to confirm that they weren’t made with sintered metal receivers by this time.

 

[joed]

I heard and read all the same opinions and facts when I was looking for a model 94 years ago. But, I found a police trade in from 1966 in a friend's LGS. My thoughts were the police certainly wouldn't use junk, and if it turned out bad I could probably sell it to someone else. That was 15 years ago and it still works flawlessly.

 

[tws3b2]

I have a 94 made in 1965. My wife killed her very first deer on her very first deer hunt with one shot in 2003. It's never failed in anyway. It's never had a part repaired or replaced. Over 50 years old and still works perfect today . What else could you possibly ask from a gun.
Now, having said that. Get one. They are great guns. I enjoy shooting my 94 more than any other I'v owned. To me they are the most classic of all classic guns.

 

[C Younger]

So, I got the one I was looking at from the early 90’s. The only safety on it is the lever/trigger interlock safety. There is a slight color difference between the barrel and receiver, so I have a suspicion that it isn’t a milled receiver gun, but I suppose it could be. It is very difficult to find information on these things. According to most sources, the sintered metal was eliminated in ‘83 when the angle eject came out. With a 600XXXX serial number it puts it well past ‘83, but mine is a top eject. My thought is, there were still sintered frames laying around well after the angle eject came out. They used those up on any top eject guns they produced after ‘83 and that’s how mine came to be. Anyway, if it turns out to be sintered metal, I overpaid a little, but it does shoot nice.

 

[Obturation]

So, I got the one I was looking at from the early 90’s. The only safety on it is the lever/trigger interlock safety. There is a slight color difference between the barrel and receiver, so I have a suspicion that it isn’t a milled receiver gun, but I suppose it could be. It is very difficult to find information on these things. According to most sources, the sintered metal was eliminated in ‘83 when the angle eject came out. With a 600XXXX serial number it puts it well past ‘83, but mine is a top eject. My thought is, there were still sintered frames laying around well after the angle eject came out. They used those up on any top eject guns they produced after ‘83 and that’s how mine came to be. Anyway, if it turns out to be sintered metal, I overpaid a little, but it does shoot nice.

Can you refer me to where you got the serial # dating info? I got one the original owner said he thought he bought in 1997 but he didn't really remember, it has a cross bolt safety and appears to be milled but i was just curious- doesn't really matter, it shoots great and i got it basically unfired with a couple hundred factory loaded rounds for $400 so im not crying either way.
All that matters is how it shoots, unless you're looking for a collector rifle in which case i think just the pre 64 guns are the thing to get.
Congrats and enjoy it!

 

[tws3b2]

A little tip. If you look around on the internet "maybe amazon" you can find a takedown manual for the 94. Getting inside once in a while for cleaning will keep that 94 humming.

 

[C Younger]

Can you refer me to where you got the serial # dating info? I got one the original owner said he thought he bought in 1997 but he didn't really remember, it has a cross bolt safety and appears to be milled but i was just curious- doesn't really matter, it shoots great and i got it basically unfired with a couple hundred factory loaded rounds for $400 so im not crying either way.
All that matters is how it shoots, unless you're looking for a collector rifle in which case i think just the pre 64 guns are the thing to get.
Congrats and enjoy it!

I don’t remember where I found it. The Winchester collectors site didn’t like the serial number. I just did some googling and found that very late 80’s, early 90’s was where the 6 millionth serial number started. The cross bolt sounds right for ‘97 as I believe they started producing those in ‘91 or ‘92. I would expect the cross bolt to have a milled receiver as that was a new design, so they wouldn’t have had the option to use any sintered frames that may have been left over from the early 80’s.

 

[C Younger]

A little tip. If you look around on the internet "maybe amazon" you can find a takedown manual for the 94. Getting inside once in a while for cleaning will keep that 94 humming.

I love taking these historic type guns apart as it just amazes me the ingenuity of the people back then. Most semi autos of today are a simpler design than even the cap and ball revolvers. I can just imagine the work that went into fitting everything together without CNC machining.

 

[tws3b2]

I love taking these historic type guns apart as it just amazes me the ingenuity of the people back then. Most semi autos of today are a simpler design than even the cap and ball revolvers. I can just imagine the work that went into fitting everything together without CNC machining.

There are a few books around on how Winchester, Colt, Remington and Browning and others came to be. Look up Americas Premiers Gunmakers 4 book set. I think you can find it on Amazon and others. Colt and Winchester had the manufacturing knowhow but Browning was the man.

 

[eastbank]

for me, I would look for a good used pre-64. they are out there you just have to look, I see many localy go for 400-600 and have bought some very nice ones for less that that. one thing for sure after using it for many years you will be able to sell it for more than you paid for it. as the difference in price between a post-64 and a pre-64 is not that great, it would be a no brainer for me. I bought this 30-30 pre-64 rifle for 500.00 dollars late last year.

 

[C Younger]

There are a few books around on how Winchester, Colt, Remington and Browning and others came to be. Look up Americas Premiers Gunmakers 4 book set. I think you can find it on Amazon and others. Colt and Winchester had the manufacturing knowhow but Browning was the man.

It does seem that Browning had the designs, then someone else would mass produce them. The very first Winchester repeaters were far weaker than what Browning came up with.

 

[C Younger]

for me, I would look for a good used pre-64. they are out there you just have to look, I see many localy go for 400-600 and have bought some very nice ones for less that that. one thing for sure after using it for many years you will be able to sell it for more than you paid for it. as the difference in price between a post-64 and a pre-64 is not that great, it would be a no brainer for me. I bought this 30-30 pre-64 rifle for 500.00 dollars late last year.

Now that I’ve got the bug, I kinda want a pre ‘64. I was looking for a Marlin 336 when the Winchester bug bit me the first time. I just love the Winchester action.

 

[Obturation]

Now that I’ve got the bug, I kinda want a pre ‘64. I was looking for a Marlin 336 when the Winchester bug bit me the first time. I just love the Winchester action.

Everyone deserves a 336, love them. A little heavy but great rifles.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Eastbank. Not only is that a pre 64, unless someone restock it, it's a pre 54. The last long fore arm was in 1953. I have a 71 year old 94 (bought it when I was 18) that still hunts. I had it out the other day working up loads with 165 grain lead bullets.

 

[tws3b2]

If you go back and look you will find that most if not all of the " classic" guns were changed, modified, redesigned from their original design at some point to make and keep them affordable. There were hundreds of firearm manufacturers in the olden days that just could not produce "at least in part" affordable guns and just went out of business. One reason Colt made it big was because he was a manufacturing genius and able the produce his guns at an affordable price. If you look back it was "and is still today" collectors not actual owners that gave Winchester all the bad rap over the post 64s. $$ The last new gun I bought was a Beretta hand gun. A very trusted name. Within one year it was back to the manufacturers for repairs. My 1965 Winchester has never been in for any reason. Over 50 years old and never a failure of any kind. No parts ever replaced or repaired. Still going just like the battery bunny.
By the way. Browning was largely responsible for the 94. He redesigned the Winchester to get the 94.

 

[tws3b2]

It does seem that Browning had the designs, then someone else would mass produce them. The very first Winchester repeaters were far weaker than what Browning came up with.

Yeah, Browning was the man back then. He designed guns for Colt, Winchester and many others including foreign manufacturers. The first Winchester model 66 was a rimfire . The 94 was the first lever Winchester to use the smokless high pressure cartridge simular to what we use today. Thats why Browning redesigned the Winchester. To use the new high pressure, high powered cartridge.

 

[C Younger]

Everyone deserves a 336, love them. A little heavy but great rifles.

I’ll probably be getting one sooner rather than later. I’ve got a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 and love it. It’s a Remlin, but I haven’t found anything wrong with it.

 

[C Younger]

If you go back and look you will find that most if not all of the " classic" guns were changed, modified, redesigned from their original design at some point to make and keep them affordable. There were hundreds of firearm manufacturers in the olden days that just could not produce "at least in part" affordable guns and just went out of business. One reason Colt made it big was because he was a manufacturing genius and able the produce his guns at an affordable price. If you look back it was "and is still today" collectors not actual owners that gave Winchester all the bad rap over the post 64s. $$ The last new gun I bought was a Beretta hand gun. A very trusted name. Within one year it was back to the manufacturers for repairs. My 1965 Winchester has never been in for any reason. Over 50 years old and never a failure of any kind. No parts ever replaced or repaired. Still going just like the battery bunny.
By the way. Browning was largely responsible for the 94. He redesigned the Winchester to get the 94.

When I read most of the gripes over the new guns (Marlin, Winchester), it sounds almost like people blame the new company owners for the old owner going out of business. If it wasn’t for these companies changing hands, they would be gone. It’s nice to still be able to purchase a new Marlin or Winchester if wanted.

 

[Riomouse911]

Yeah, Browning was the man back then. He designed guns for Colt, Winchester and many others including foreign manufacturers. The first Winchester model 66 was a rimfire . The 94 was the first lever Winchester to use the smokless high pressure cartridge simular to what we use today. Thats why Browning redesigned the Winchester. To use the new high pressure, high powered cartridge.

If I recall correctly John Moses Browning's falling out with Winchester revolved around a royalty issue; after the 1892, 1894 and 1895 rifles started selling well Browning now wanted a cut of each piece sold rather than his previous lump payment for the design itself. Winchester balked, because they knew his designs were selling like hotcakes for them and this was going to get expensive, so Browning walked.

His later collaborations with FN, Ithaca, Remington and Colt probably became real salt in Winchester's wounds, as much of the later stuff JMB designed is fantastic.

Stay safe.

 

[tws3b2]

If I recall correctly John Moses Browning's falling out with Winchester revolved around a royalty issue; after the 1892, 1894 and 1895 rifles started selling well Browning now wanted a cut of each piece sold rather than his previous lump payment for the design itself. Winchester balked, because they knew his designs were selling like hotcakes for them and this was going to get expensive, so Browning walked.

His later collaborations with FN, Ithaca, Remington and Colt probably became real salt in Winchester's wounds, as much of the later stuff JMB designed is fantastic.

Stay safe.

Winchester purchased several other designs from Browning before they split, but never used them. They only wanted to keep him from selling to other manufacturers. He had the same falling out with Colt. He continued working with FN. He died in the FN plant of a heart attack I think it was. FN erected a memorial for him at their plant.

 

[Riomouse911]

I believe his last "date" rifle with Winchester (1892, 1894 etc.) was the 1900, a .22 bolt gun?

 

[tws3b2]

Yes, it was a single shot bolt action 22. Patented in late 1899. Discontinued in 1902 but modified into other models, 1902, 1904, 99 and many others. Also copied by other companies as well. The model 99 was kind of a strange bolt action. It had no trigger guard or trigger. It used a push button on the bolt called thumb trigger.