A friend just picked up a Winchester 1894 in .30 WCF. It's a take-down rifle made in 1897. 90% or better. It has a small, approx. 3 inch handle at the front of the tubular magazine, just under the muzzle. Any idea why? I was thinking it might be some type of primitive lock-out feature. Owner was also thinking about shooting it. I suggested black powder or cowboy action loads. Other info would also be welcomed. Comments.
info. needed on an original 1894 Winchester lever action
- Thread starter Thomasss
- Start date
halfmoonclip
Member
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- 2,874
If it is a takedown, that is almost certainly for unthreading the magazine tube, so that the barrel, with interrupted thread, can be disconnected from the frame.
My '97 shotgun works that way, but get some real Winchester experts to chime in. Sounds like a great catch.
Moon
My '97 shotgun works that way, but get some real Winchester experts to chime in. Sounds like a great catch.
Moon
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
@Thomasss check out the 5th photo down on this link. It’s a lever for the mag removal.
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/early-model-1894-takedown/
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/early-model-1894-takedown/
Yep that's exactly what it is. Now the only question is what type of safe loads can the gun handle?
As long as it is in good operating condition any standard 30 30 ammo should be safe. They 30 30 was always a smokeless powder run and is loaded to about the same performance level it always has been. However , it is 126 years old. If you, or some one you know, handloads starting loads may be a good choice.
Jim Watson
Member
Don't take it down too often, it will wear loose. There is a takeup but it is limited.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
The best thing to do would be to take it to a Gunsmith for verification.
The .30 WCF or 30-30 was one of the first smokeless rifle ammo for commercial sales. The guns made for that cartridge were rated for smokeless powder as well.
I don’t know what pressures the original cartridge produced but the original rounds were unjacketed lead so the velocity was lower than today’s 30-30 rounds.
Here are some references for you.
https://winchester.com/Blog/2016/05/30-30-misconceptions-through-the-years
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.30-30+Winchester++.30+WCF.html
tark
Member
Thanks Pat Riot. I learned something.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I do not know, but if you look at some sales pages online you can get a good idea.
I did a search on DDG using these words. “1894 winchester made in 1897 for sale”. There were numerous examples of 1894 Win. guns made in the late 1890’s selling and sold at auction for prices ranging from the low $2000’s to the mid $4000’s. I didn’t want to post auction links here as I cannot remember if that’s permitted or not.
gunmechanic
Member
The lever is for mag tube removal .My opinion is it is worth 2750 to 3350 .I would shoot cowboy action 30/30 loads through it .
silicosys4
Member
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- Jun 29, 2012
- Messages
- 3,737
Post pictures over at the winchester collectors forum.
They will be happy to tell you exactly what you have and its value.
You aren't going to get any worthwhile evaluations unless you can post pictures, as detailed as you can get.
Forum | Winchester CollectorWinchester Collector
They will be happy to tell you exactly what you have and its value.
You aren't going to get any worthwhile evaluations unless you can post pictures, as detailed as you can get.
Forum | Winchester CollectorWinchester Collector
