Purchased an Winchester .30-30 1894 model today at a gun show. The blueing wasn't so good, but overall the gun was in great shap. Mecanically sound, great bore, very good wood. I paid $250, tax included. The seriel number has it made during the Jimmy Carter year of 1979. With the piece so mechanically sound I thought I'd use it for a truck gun, and not worry about a few more nicks or scratches that might come along. How did I do, guys?
1979 Winchester 1894
- Thread starter whalerman
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hoghunting
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I would have paid $250 and walked away very happy. Congratulations on your new rifle.
cleardiddion
Member
I didn't actually buy my 71 vintage Winny (traded for an LE No1 Mk3) but I'd say that you did very well. Around here, even in kinda crummy shape they're up in the ballpark of 300 or so.
I toss mine in the back seat every once in a while and there's a few things that I've learned that you might be interested in:
Get a buttcuff for extra ammo for it. If things go south and you have to use it, it kinda gets hard to grab extra ammo from the box. Leather with the tie downs is best but I have a polyester/somethingoranother one that I picked up at a show for 10 bucks a little while back. It works but it slides around a bit. It helps me achieve a little better cheekweld since I'm more used to heavier/wider military stocks.
If the blueing on it isn't very good (or even it is) keep the surfaces lightly oiled. The blueing on mine is great for the vintage and for having been hunted with but once I came back to find some surface rust when I'd left in the car a bit too long and it had developed condensation on it. If you feel so inclined, you could actually probably paint it with stuff like gunkote or even rustoleum to make it even lower maintinence intensive.
I guess that's about it.
Congrats on the new rifle!
I toss mine in the back seat every once in a while and there's a few things that I've learned that you might be interested in:
Get a buttcuff for extra ammo for it. If things go south and you have to use it, it kinda gets hard to grab extra ammo from the box. Leather with the tie downs is best but I have a polyester/somethingoranother one that I picked up at a show for 10 bucks a little while back. It works but it slides around a bit. It helps me achieve a little better cheekweld since I'm more used to heavier/wider military stocks.
If the blueing on it isn't very good (or even it is) keep the surfaces lightly oiled. The blueing on mine is great for the vintage and for having been hunted with but once I came back to find some surface rust when I'd left in the car a bit too long and it had developed condensation on it. If you feel so inclined, you could actually probably paint it with stuff like gunkote or even rustoleum to make it even lower maintinence intensive.
I guess that's about it.
Congrats on the new rifle!
Quick Karl
member
Here is My 94, picked out of the corner of a gunsmith's shop, stock broken in 2-pieces and rusted from tang to muzzle...
I got it for free - the funny thing is the rifle will shoot groups you would HAVE to SEE to believe it.
I'll never sell it.
Pics from before I refinished it
I got it for free - the funny thing is the rifle will shoot groups you would HAVE to SEE to believe it.
I'll never sell it.
Pics from before I refinished it
Cosmoline
Member
Winchester made some very nice 94's in the late 70's and early 80's before the company was sold and the new outfit introduced lawyer safties, angle ejection, handgun chamberings and other novelties. I think they're the last of the true 94's.
Thanks very much for the responses. I've had a great time reading them. Quick Karl, that's a beautiful rig. There's something special about dressing up an old girl and taking her out after she's been left at home for awhile.
I'm in my mid-50's now, and I've put together a nice little collection. But lately, I've had more fun picking up less expensive pieces and cleaning them up a bit. Then I tend to use them and enjoy them more. I've got enough stuff in the safe. These 94's sure are pretty guns. I'm having more fun with this $250 purchase and this posting than I do with guns that cost four times as much.
I'm in my mid-50's now, and I've put together a nice little collection. But lately, I've had more fun picking up less expensive pieces and cleaning them up a bit. Then I tend to use them and enjoy them more. I've got enough stuff in the safe. These 94's sure are pretty guns. I'm having more fun with this $250 purchase and this posting than I do with guns that cost four times as much.
Tinpig
Member
I recently found a 1955 model 94...a few places with honest blue-wear, but the varnish on the stock was mottled and peeling like a 3rd degree sunburn, so the dealer let it go cheap.
I stripped all the furniture down to to bare walnut, stained it with Chestnut Ridge military stain, and rubbed in three coats of boiled linseed oil. I'm happy with the results and it's a great shooter:
Tinpig
I stripped all the furniture down to to bare walnut, stained it with Chestnut Ridge military stain, and rubbed in three coats of boiled linseed oil. I'm happy with the results and it's a great shooter:
Tinpig
Since Winchester doesn't sell an 1894 for less than $1300 anymore, I say get them while you can. The Mossberg 464 is the closest thing you can get to a model 94 at a reasonable price anymore.
I've got a 1968 Model 94. With open sites at 50 yards you can shoot a darn good group....biggest problem is using a target about 10 inches in diameter, the front bead covers up 50% of it at 50 yards. I've killed a deer with it and my dad says he has killed 2 or 3 with it.
I've got a 1968 Model 94. With open sites at 50 yards you can shoot a darn good group....biggest problem is using a target about 10 inches in diameter, the front bead covers up 50% of it at 50 yards. I've killed a deer with it and my dad says he has killed 2 or 3 with it.
Quick Karl
member
$1300 for a 94?????
What the.... :banghead:
What the.... :banghead:
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=003C&mid=534165
sure it looks awesome, but why wouldn't Winchester still be making an affordable version of their most famous gun?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
$1,469 MSRP
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=003C&mid=534164
$1,959 MSRP
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=003C&mid=534165
Both made in Japan, and very much higher quality then any 94 made before by USRA.
Around these parts, real good used 94 carbines, even pre-64 carbines are still plentiful, and about 1/4 that MSRP price.
rc
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=003C&mid=534164
$1,959 MSRP
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=003C&mid=534165
Both made in Japan, and very much higher quality then any 94 made before by USRA.
Around these parts, real good used 94 carbines, even pre-64 carbines are still plentiful, and about 1/4 that MSRP price.
rc
Quick Karl
member
Gawd damn I think I am going to put mine up for sale.... 
Quick Karl
member
My question is what makes the new rifles worth so much more than your average 94 - pre-64 notwithstanding.
Well with those linked, look at all the engraving and gold leaf. They are also limited editions made specifically as collectors pieces. Plus most of Winchester's stuff is overpriced nowadays.
Cosmoline
Member
Nothing sane. If you like your 94 tricked out with gold leaf and faux appearance of being collectible, I suppose it might be worth some money. But not that much. Besides these were supposed to be WORKING rifles. Not fancy wall hangers.
Don't trust any 1894 under 30.
Hardtarget
Member
My '94 was a Christmas gift in '67 from my parents. I've deer hunted with it for years. It has an octagon barrel and is rifle length, not carbine. I put peep sights on it a few years ago. Oddly, the wood it highly figured...the best looking wood of all my long guns.
Mark
Mark
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