1894 Model Winchester .30WCF

[inertia47]

I have an 1894 Winchester in 30WCF with serial number 1033. This low serial number indicates that it was produced in 1894 but I have read that the model was not made in this calibre until the following year of 1895. It is in shooting condition with original screws and wood. Which is correct and is it of any value?

My shooting buddy has an 1894 in 30WCF but the serial number, MX 518, does not correspond with any of the numbers I have in my little red book. Can anyone help with date of manufacture?

 

[rcmodel]

It is very possible yours has been re-barreled to a more common 30-30 at some point in the last 118 years.
Possibly the barrel was badly corroded, or they couldn't find the correct .32-40 or .38-55 WCF ammo for it.
If you are up to taking the magazine tube off, it should be date stamped when it was put together on the bottom of the barrel right next to the receiver.

I can't help much with the serial on the other one.
Except it does sound like the serial number range used in 1984.
But I doubt it would be marked .30 WCF unless it was a commemorative model of some kind.

rc

 

[inertia47]

1894 Winchester

Thanks RC. I'll take a look under the tube. The barrel is octagonal and well-worn.

The second rifle appears very old - certainly much older than 1984 and is marked 30WCF rather than 30-30 which would be the case for a rifle of that year.

 

[floyd58523]

Your Winchesters will have records at the Cody Firearms Museum. You can for a price call with the serial number and they will tell you what configuration the rifle was produced in. For additional funds you can have the rifle lettered.
These are the dates when the first 30 WCF were produced

30 W.C.F. Rifle - serial number 3314, 5-29-1895
30 W.C.F. Carbine - serial number 4787, 6-24-1895

 

[floyd58523]

If you can post a picture of the reciever both sides. That serial number would place it into a first model. A lot of interest in the rifle.

 

[inertia47]

It's in the shop at the moment having a spring attended to. Will post photos on its return.

 

[inertia47]

1894 Win

Here are the photos, I hope.

 

[inertia47]

R/H side of receiver -

 

[inertia47]

I'll try again:

 

[floyd58523]

A picture will be needed of the serial number. The 1894 is a 2nd model reciever. Next to the 30 w.c.f is there an oval wp proof mark on the reciever and or the barrel? The picture is a little out of focus to see if there are proof markes.

 

[inertia47]

Floyd,

It would appear that I have made a gross error. Upon vigorously cleaning the area under the receiver the serial no. is MX033 and to the rear of that is the inscription ODIN ALEX VA. On top of the barrel I can just make out an oval shape with the letter F. What this means I have no idea!

 

[rcmodel]

That is the import stamp for Odin International located in Alexandria, VA.
They closed down in the 1980's I think.

That rifle made its way overseas and was subsequently re-imported back into the US in the 1970's - 80's.

I'd almost bet they added the MX serial number too, as that does not fit with anything Winchester did in the early days.

rc

 

[inertia47]

RC, this rifle is not in the USA it is here in Australia where I reside so it has not been re-imported.

 

[rcmodel]

Oh!

Well, in that case, Odin International exported it from here to there.

rc

 

[floyd58523]

The serial number looks to have been so worn off that the importer placed the new number for the serial number. Enjoy you piece of history. Without the exact serial number dating the rifle is impossible.