Need help old 1894 idenification

[jeffrice6]

Hello, i have inherited an old winchester 94 marked 30WCF that has been in the family forever. It is the takedown model, half octagon and half round barrel, pistol grip stock, and half mag tube. There are no serial numbers on it and i'm just trying to figure out age, date or decade. Not that i would sell, but also mabe a value range? Thanks

 

[achildofthesky]

Lovely rifle...

Sorry not to be of helpbut that is a lovely old rifle.

Patty

 

[jeffrice6]

Thank you

 

[mustanger98]

Very nice. I'm sorry to say I'm probably not any more help than the previous poster, but I haven't seen any like this later than 1920 at the latest. I have a feeling this piece is from the first decade of production, but I cannot say for sure.

 

[Cosmoline]

Sweet fancy Moses.

It's value range is high. Don't do a thing to it. Don't let anyone else do anything to it.

 

[treebeard]

I don't know anything about your rifle......but darn that thing is beautiful. The markings on it are excellent and the color of the wood is spectacular.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Is that the original wood? Very nice.

 

[mustanger98]

Right now, I'm wondering two things...

1) What make and model is that receiver sight?

2) TRH, where'd you get your sig line?

 

[jeffrice6]

Original wood, but my Grandfather and his friend refinished it about 20 years ago

1 The receiver sight is an old Lynan 55c

 

[Cosmoline]

But to answer your question, I'd suggest putting the specs up over here:

http://leverguns.sixgunner.com/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=2

We're just going to keep looking at the pictures, slack jawed. Paco and crew actually know something about leverguns. The blue appears original, which is good. The wood is amazing, even if it was refinished.

 

[Old Fuff]

I thought by now the Winchester collectors would be crawling all over you...

Unlike most Winchester model 94 rifles, this one has a number of custom features that most likely were special ordered, they include:

A pistol-grip stock with a shotgun-style buttplate.

Special figured wood (probably originally checkered).

The takedown feature.

There should be a serial number stamped on the bottom of the receiver, ahead of the lever, but back of the takedown shoulder on the barrel. An alternative possibility is that it's stamped on the bottom strap, behind the lever, or on one of the tangs. In that case it would be necessary to remove the stock to see it.

If you find the serial number, the Winchester museum in Cody, WY. would do a records search for a fee (likely around $30,00) and given that it was probably special ordered might find some interesting information about the original buyer.

The value of the rifle might depend on what they found.

 

[Jim Watson]

A takedown half octagon half magazine 1894 is an uncommon variation and is worth a bit even with sights changed and stock refinished. It would be worth a lot more if Grandpa and his friend hadn't gotten fancy.

The lack of a serial number is worrisome. Winchester numbered all their leverguns that I know of. My 1885 and 1886 are numbered on the bottom tang, my 1892 on the bottom of the receiver.

 

[____hoot____]

Beautiful gun, should be worth more than a grand. I don't know where they would have put a serial number on a takedown model, but I bet there is one there somewhere. My saddle-ring carbine has it across the front bottom of the reciever. It's serial number is 145XXX and I looked it up and found out it was made in 1898. ps your gun has an extra pin that mine does not have just above the loading ramp, maybe part of the takedown design?

 

[jeffrice6]

Well as the story goes, the rifle came from my great great aunt who was a tough old dame in the hills of Oregon, before that no one knows. My grandfather tried doing some limited research before he passed, he told me that the serial numbers must have been scratched off at some time -but.........Hey mabe the great great aunt was up to no good?

 

[Cosmoline]

Can you check the underside of the receiver for the SN? It doesn't look like anyone scratched at it.

 

[jeffrice6]

ya, theres no #'s, but ive done a little more research and what i have found leads me to believe that this rifle was under the 100,000 mark making meaning it was built in 1897 or before. Please anyone, correct me if im wrong. Damn, I love history and firearms

 

[Cosmoline]

Oh wow. It may well be. A true antique special order! You may want to pay for an expert appraisal and get some insurance on it. If it is what it appears to be, the value may be far greater than $1,000. I wonder if there's a SN stamped under the tang as well.

 

[jeffrice6]

I tried over at Leverguns but didn't get much tonight, i guess i will check in with those guys tomorrow

 

[Cosmoline]

Can you give a pic of the underside of the receiver. I'm curious if there's scratching there or if it's smooth. If the SN was there, and the metal wasn't ground too badly, it should still be possible to tease it out.

 

[LAK]

Can't help with the ID, age and value; but that is some beautiful wood. Nice patina on the metal too. Very nice overall - I wouldn't even think about selling it if I were in your position.

--------------------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org

 

[jeffrice6]

 

[Ranger 40]

No Ser# modern Cartg. rifle, it is now classed as Contraband. It would be illegal to transport or own. If you were ever checked by an officer of the law the gun would be taken from you. You could be charged with a felony involving firearms which is not good. I am not expert take this for what its worth.

 

[Cosmoline]

It looks like you've stumped the experts on the leverguns forum as well. Now I don't feel so bad. The tang marks may help answer some questions, but it doesn't look like that four digit number would be the SN. Can you see any traces of numbers on the receiver? As they noted, there are ways to get the number back up if it was just filed. The numbers are stamped, and leave their ghost deep into the receiver's metal. But it would mar that patina.

 

[jeffrice6]

I have definitely tried to see something there, but nothing. Where the receiver rounds ( where the #'s should be ) you can see that the metal looks a little more rough or different, its smooth but 100 years might just smooth out some file marks. I just have no idea

 

[rbernie]

I am not expert take this for what its worth

I believe you are incorrect. As far as I know, since 1968 it's been illegal to manufacture a firearm without a serial number or alter an existing serial number - but not illegal to own a firearm that has no serial number (since many were not historically serial numbered).