Always wanted one, now i got one.

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ontarget

ontarget

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Walked into a pawnshop today with no particular gun on my mind hoping alot of people pawned their guns for Christmas cash. They had a few .22lr rifles I was comparing when a lever action caught my eye. It was a Winchester 94 in 30-30. Decent looking wood, nice bore, a little blueing missing on the side of the receiver but overall good shape. Early 70s mfg. Asking price was $285.00. I walked out the door with it for $235.00. Merry Christmas to me.
 
Exact same thing happened to me about two months ago. I'd been wanting a lever .30-30, and had been eyeing the Marlin 336W at the local Wal-Mart over the spring and summer. But two attempts to get people there to sell it to me without success turned me off.

I wandered into the local gun showroom here, with nothing particular in mind (I just go in to look around a few times a month), and my eye catches a Winchester 94, made in 1968, I believe. A little rough around the edges and some light bluing wear, but I figure a lever Winchester needs to have some character, and it does way above a new "Remmarlin." In addition, another gun also grabbed my attention, a Star Super B in pristine (perhaps even unissued) condition. The Winnie was marked at $350, and the Star at a hundred less. The Star's going rate is about what they were asking, but an agreed-upon price of $500 for both guns can mean I got the Winnie for $250.

Merry Christmas..!
 
I got it cleaned up this evening. It's even better than I thought. If it weren't for the small rust marks on the left side of the receiver it would be perfect. The spots came right off with some 4/0 steel wool and CLP but the bluing was already gone but like MedWheeler said every lever action Winchester needs some character. I may try to shoot it tomorrow.
 
ontarget and MedWheeler, you both done good!

Just last week I saw a Win 94 in .30-30 at a local shop. Condition wasn't Very Good, just Good. Asking price... $600. You could have knocked me over with a feather.



So Merry Christmas, indeed. Enjoy!
 
ontarget

Way to go with the Winchester Model 94! Definitely a classic lever action for sure! Only .30-30 I ever had was an older Marlin 336. Had to sell it when times got tough and I needed money for school. Would love to find another one (in good shape and at a decent price), or a Model 94 like you found.
 
I have a very nice Marlin 336 BUT my daughter has been using it for deer hunting the last couple seasons. Every time she has taken a deer with my rifle she claims it as hers. She also claimed her older brothers Knight muzzle loader after killing a buck with it. Anyway, as I'm planning to lose my Marlin I figured I better get a new lever action. I'm not complaining. Life is good.
 
The lever action thing is definitely a disease. I don't know how it's contracted (other than being born here in the USA) and there's no cure that I know of. I have "a number" of firearms... some are definitely accurate, some are useful for different purposes, some are just too pretty to ever part with. But a lever action.... I have never had a reason to own a lever action rifle, but... but.... but... I just developed the all-consuming NEED to have one a few years ago. So began the search... and I ended up with a nearly pristine 1942 Winchester in 30 WCF. I got a great deal. Now it sits in my safe. I shot it a few times to verify everything works... Sheesh... then it became 2. Then it became 3 and finally a 4th one appeared! All in such useful calibers, too! I think the disease is in remission now, but I'm not sure.

Enjoy your new rifle! Be careful though. They multiply.
 
RainDodger said:
The lever action thing is definitely a disease. I don't know how it's contracted (other than being born here in the USA) and there's no cure that I know of. I have "a number" of firearms... some are definitely accurate, some are useful for different purposes, some are just too pretty to ever part with. But a lever action.... I have never had a reason to own a lever action rifle, but... but.... but... I just developed the all-consuming NEED to have one a few years ago. So began the search... and I ended up with a nearly pristine 1942 Winchester in 30 WCF. I got a great deal. Now it sits in my safe. I shot it a few times to verify everything works... Sheesh... then it became 2. Then it became 3 and finally a 4th one appeared! All in such useful calibers, too! I think the disease is in remission now, but I'm not sure.

Enjoy your new rifle! Be careful though. They multiply.
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Yeah, keep telling yourself you're in remission. Then you will see another one and fall right off the wagon. Good luck.
 
SwampWolf said:
Maybe not the best time period for the making of a Model 94 but you can't beat the price. Every serious "rifle loony" should have at least one Model 94 in his collection. Congratulations!
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Yeah, years ago I went through a mental exercise as to what firearms are a must have in a good American collection and the Winchester 1894 is definitely at, or near the top of the list.
I have a pre-64, 94 I picked up at a small local gun shop for a good price. I probably only shoot it once or twice a year, but I dearly love that rifle.

I also like the look of good honest wear on a rifle like this. Mine is in very good condition but I certainly wouldn't shy away from buying one with some patina to it. Which makes me think of my old Winchester 1894 Trapper that I owned back in the day. I bought it at a pawn shop and it had some rust and a few dings on it. I traded it for something with the intention of replacing it with a better looking version of the same rifle. I never did and now I look back and wonder why I cared about the cosmetic flaws it had. I actually shot it a lot and a buddy of mine had the same rifle: which we shot together quite a bit. For some reason at that place and time, those Trappers were very common. I haven't seen one in years now. I guess I should point out that I am talking about the .30-30 Trappers. I own a Trapper in .45 Colt and the 9422 Trapper. I have shot the crap out of that .45 Colt rifle over the years. Thousands upon thousands of cast bullets have exited that barrel. Now I am getting to the point in life where seeing those buckhorn sights is getting difficult. I am thinking about putting a Marbles tang sight on my Winchesters.
 
I have two of them from the same era as yours. I saw another one about four months back in my LGS in great shape...and
"just because" I almost bought that one, too.

I just couldn't justify three (Well, counting a beater commemerative my Dad gave me recently it would really be "four") 1894 .30-30's in the safe... so I bought a 28 ga BPS instead...:).

Nice find, have fun shooting it!
 
I agree with ontarget and Rain Dodger.If you like one lever gun having one more just seems like a good idea thats how the disease starts.
A Winchester 94 is one of the best and most fun all around rifles and the 30-30 will just do it.
I have met people that don’t like lever action.I don’t like that type of person .
 
444 said:
Now I am getting to the point in life where seeing those buckhorn sights is getting difficult. I am thinking about putting a Marbles tang sight on my Winchesters.
Click to expand...

Try using a receiver sight like the Williams "FoolProof" or Lyman equivalent. I have FoolProofs mounted on several lever-action rifles I own, as well as a fifties era Remington Model 760 pump, and I have found them to be fast, accurate and sturdy. When used correctly, even these 74 year old peepers can find that front sight plenty quickly.
 
I have a Lyman receiver sight on my .30-30 but I was looking for something a little more "period correct".
Just for looks.
Still a peep, but similar if not the same as the ones you see on 80 year old Winchesters.
 
MedWheeler said:
Exact same thing happened to me about two months ago. I'd been wanting a lever .30-30, and had been eyeing the Marlin 336W at the local Wal-Mart over the spring and summer. But two attempts to get people there to sell it to me without success turned me off.

I wandered into the local gun showroom here, with nothing particular in mind (I just go in to look around a few times a month), and my eye catches a Winchester 94, made in 1968, I believe. A little rough around the edges and some light bluing wear, but I figure a lever Winchester needs to have some character, and it does way above a new "Remmarlin." In addition, another gun also grabbed my attention, a Star Super B in pristine (perhaps even unissued) condition. The Winnie was marked at $350, and the Star at a hundred less. The Star's going rate is about what they were asking, but an agreed-upon price of $500 for both guns can mean I got the Winnie for $250.

Merry Christmas..!
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Hello Med
I have been eyeing a Remington 700 at our local Walmart and I have yet to see anyone back at the sporting goods counter. I refuse to track anyone down just to spend money. Someone needs to be there when it's good for me or they lose. I have given up. I'll keep hitting the pawnshops and maybe I'll get lucky like you. A Winchester 94 for $250. You got a deal. That's the power of cash and having a salesperson on sight.

kwg
 
ontarget said:
Walked into a pawnshop today with no particular gun on my mind hoping alot of people pawned their guns for Christmas cash. They had a few .22lr rifles I was comparing when a lever action caught my eye. It was a Winchester 94 in 30-30. Decent looking wood, nice bore, a little blueing missing on the side of the receiver but overall good shape. Early 70s mfg. Asking price was $285.00. I walked out the door with it for $235.00. Merry Christmas to me.
Click to expand...

One word - tradition!!!
 
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