No more cross-bolt safeties on Winchester 94's?

[Gewehr98]

Heard a rumor that Winchester (ok, USRA) has deleted the icky cross-bolt safety on the Model 94. It's being replaced by a less-intrusive sliding tang safety, ala' the repro Model 95's. Anybody else hear the same?

 

[Preacherman]

Yes, it's true. From the Winchester Web site (http://www.winchester-guns.com/prodinfo/catalog/category.asp?cat=003C):

Some changes move a product forward, some take it back. This year we’ve done both with the Winchester® Model 94. Look at a new 94 and you will see ... and you won’t. You will see the safety that has been relocated to the top tang. What you won’t see is the side receiver mounted safety from recent years ... Just the clean classic lines collectors love in the ‘94s of old.

 

[nextjoe]

They're replacing one unnecessary safety with another unnecessary safety. Let's all jump for joy.

At least the tang safety won't let you pull the trigger when it's on safe, which the crossbolt would do. It probably won't allow the mounting of a tang peep sight, though, which I really like.

A half-step in the right direction, but still not enough to get me to buy one.

Best,
Joe