Should I trade for a post-'64 Winchester 94 ?

[MIL-DOT]

A freind has offered to trade a (presumably) extremely clean, almost un-fired 1966 model 94, for my 1942 S&W Victory Model .38. The pistol's value is enhanced by the U.S. navy stamping, and an authenticating factory letter from Roy Jinks at S&W ( that cost me $50 of 10 weeks of checking the mailbox). Now, I already know the pistol is worth more, but I'm not in love with it, and the guy with the Winny is the guy I got the S&W from a few years ago, and he's been whining about it ever since ( and he'll definately be checking this forum to see what advice I get,LOL ).
Also, I've wanted a Winchester lever gun since I was a toddler, and somehow, one has never been in my stable. But, I'm thinking that I might could just take the S&W to a gun show and trade for a nicer,pre-'64 Winchester.
Anyway, I'm more of an AK/AR guy, so these "cowboy guns" are a little out of my area, so any info or advice is much appreciated.......

 

[sage5907]

mil-dot, I wouldn't buy a Winchester Model 94 unless I could shoot it for accuracy before I bought it. You are in a good position to try the gun before you trade. I had one back in the 60's that was pretty and smooth but it would throw bullets all over the place. I don't think it was normal for a Winchester but it does show they made a few bad rifles. I took it in trade as partial payment for a 56 Chevrolet and sold it to a cowboy. Several years later I happened to see his brother and mentioned selling the rifle. He said, "that dang rifle would't shoot worth a damn." BW

 

[MIL-DOT]

So that's it,huh? All day at work, and I come home to one solitary reply? I guess I should've started another AR/AK.45/9mm. thread, I'd be sifting through three highly detailed pages.
Anyway,thanks for weighing in ,shooter5907.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I have absolutely nothing to add to this thread, but I'll post anyway, just so you have one more to look at.

Seriously, I would make the trade if the rifle was a decent shooter, but that's just me. I don't get carried away about the "pre" or "post" 64 thing, unless it's a bolt action.

 

[frankt]

Well your S&W is definitely worth more than a 66 model 94. If it was a good pre 64 the prices would probably be closer but if the quality of the rifle suits you and you don't really want the revolver make the trade.

 

[Craigman]

agreed. The pre 64 thing didnt get too popular on the 94's until recently. Some people feed in to it way too much. Some people just get a Marlin.

 

[Abel]

The 1966 is worth about $400. If the 38 is worth more than $450, just have him throw in three $20 bills or something. Seems easy enough to me. I would rather have the 30-30 myself.

 

[Powerglide]

Well, buy the Winchester and have both? Lol

 

[colgems]

the 94 is infinately more useful and desirable to the public at large. what condition is it in? good ones are getting harder to find and pricey! you've wanted one since you were a toddler? i'd say you answered your own question, but i would show up with cash and ammo if it was needed to make the trade go smoothly. your friend sounds like an honorable and decent gentleman to set you up with such a fine rifle. make the trade and thank him for it.

 

[Bobson]

the 94 is infinately more useful and desirable to the public at large. what condition is it in? good ones are getting harder to find and pricey! you've wanted one since you were a toddler? i'd say you answered your own question, but i would show up with cash and ammo if it was needed to make the trade go smoothly. your friend sounds like an honorable and decent gentleman to set you up with such a fine rifle. make the trade and thank him for it.

I think we found the friend. haha

TBH, I agree with this post fully. Sounds like you have something your friend wants, and he has something you've always wanted. If the rifle shoots well, make the trade. If the value difference is ruining it for you, have him throw in a couple boxes of ammo for the rifle.

 

[788Ham]

If it were me, I'd keep the revolver! There are plenty of '94's out there, and as you said, "presumably" extremely clean and unfired, your friend doesn't know that for sure, if its unfired? Winchester made millions of those rifles, his isn't the only one out there. You'll be sorry when its gone, the voice of experience!

 

[BBQLS1]

Lulz.

I have a 1976 year 1894. One thing I learned is that those factory sights (buck horn type) really aren't that accurate. Mine had the two screw spots for a Williams Peep, and it really increased my ability to shoot the rifle. I need to do an "official" grouping, but when I took it out I could pop within 2 inches of my intended center..... and I was having to guess at it because I couldn't see the little red dot!

It was one of those black shoot and see targets with basically 5 targets on one sheet. I targeted the upper right target and had to guess where exactly the center was. I only fired a couple of shots (I ran out of ammo shooting at closer targets) and got them pretty close. Close enough that I was convinced that peeps work better.

 

[Sav .250]

Trades do not always even out. Sometime you get the best of it.....sometimes,no.
The key is if you like the trade .................it`s a good one.

 

[Bushpilot]

If the guy is a friend of yours and you got it from him in the first place well, then trade him back if the Smith doesn't hold any special place near and dear to you. I've been in that situation myself. You never know, he might have a gun in the future that you really want. However, just on simply the basis of the guns involved I wouldn't make the trade. 1966 has to be one of the least desirable years for a 94 that there is. Quality on the 94's started coming back in the early to mid 70's.

 

[MIL-DOT]

(quote) "I think we found the friend. haha"
You would be correct,Bobson . As you can clearly see, he ( colgems) is quite the silver-tongued hustler that only the foolhardy would fail to be wary of .
Thanks to all for the useful replies. The jury remains........out.

 

[Abel]

Trades do not always even out. Sometime you get the best of it.....sometimes,no.
The key is if you like the trade .................it`s a good one.

This.

 

[ExAgoradzo]

+1 again

 

[MIL-DOT]

Guys, if I already "liked" the trade, then I wouldn't come to a forum full of enthusiasts and experts for advice. I'm wanting to know IF I should like the trade.
I'm having a difficult time finding the values of both guns, so I was hoping for some further insight. As I said, I already know the Victory is worth more, but if it's worth A LOT more, then I'd be a bit of an idiot to make the trade, whether I "liked" it, or not.
Anyway, I just dug up a couple recent sales of excellent-condition, Navy stamped Victory models that went for $900-1000, and one auction that is still running with 5 days to go, so I'll keep an eye on that.
On top of that, I just got a highly informative PM from a member here that gave me the lowdown on the early post-'64s, according to Robert Rennebergs definitive work on Winchester 94s, which doesn't speak well of the mid-late '60s rifles, and makes a good case as to why.
But, I'm still a week or so from even being able to see the rifle, so who knows.
Thanks again for all responses..........

 

[HILLBILLY-06]

MIL-DOT...{QUOTE}:Guys, if I already "liked" the trade, then I wouldn't come to a forum full of enthusiasts and experts for advice. I'm wanting to know IF I should like the trade. {END QUOTE}:
I have owned a pre 64 for many years now, it was in mint condition when I bought it from a friend many years ago... I Love mine, I always have loved it. It is simple to operate, easy to use, mine is very accurate and dependable too. I used it for many years as my first hunting rifle. Very light weight, easy to handle on the long difficult mountain hunts here at home. Easy to dry down after a hard rain, never got jammed or fouled a single shot from dust, dirt, twiggs, leaves or crawling around on the ground. It even worked in the snow.
Now all these things said, I later spent $$$$$$ on countless other guns and accessories to no avail. Yeah, those $500.00 scopes get wet, and fog up when you least expect it too, the bolt on one rifle froze shut one day, I had to bring it inside to thaw out to unload it, one even lost the magazine who knows where in the woods, the other the bolt kept getting yanked open all the time in the brush, and I had to sit and think if all this new crap was going to pan out as well as my old friend the "Winchester" pre 64 model rifle, that just always worked. It still works, and I enjoy every minute with it.
I don't know how that rifle you talked about got used, or how accurate it is, or what kind of shape its in, but I can depend on mine, through thick and thin, rain or shine, sleet or snow, even the snow falling down right on top of it all day long, and it always worked when I told it to. Yeh, you may not like those iron sights at first, but if you just want to try something simple... just clean it, oil it, wipe it down good, and it just works, and I never once used any of that new ammo they got out for it now either, that lever revolution stuff, I just used hollow points, and flat lead tips in mine, never a problem at all.
So good luck to you, what ever you decide, I made my decision about 17 years ago, and I am glad that I did. I personally want to keep mine, just because it always just works..........HILLBILLY-06.

 

[BCRider]

It's tough when it's shooting buddys going at trades like this.

If it were not for being buddys then the first thing you want to look at is do you enjoy having and shooting that S&W/Navy revolver? If it sees regular range days out to play and makes you smile when you hold it then I would say that no rifle is worth breaking up a good relationship.

On the other hand if you don't use it much and it's simply "nice" to have without a lot of sentimental value for you then trading it off becomes an option. It's simply a matter of striking a deal which is equitable to both of you.

Another thing is that since you're buddys with the guy you can always trade it back with the stipulation that the revolver comes back out when you two go out for a session together. That way you at least get to visit and shoot it again.

 

[highpower]

Here's the thing.....the Navy marked Smith is worth 1.5 times what the post '64 Winchester is worth at this time, and it is going up in value at a much faster rate. That is supposing. of course, that the victory is in good, original condition.

The 64 to early 70's 94's are the least collectable of all the pre-angle eject/crossbolt safety Winchesters. One that is in new condition is not worth that much more than one that has been shot. I just bought a '72 vintage '94 in excellent condition for $300 with three boxes of new Remington ammo (worth around $20 per box). I felt that it was an OK deal, but not a super one. That is not to say they are bad guns, just that they aren't worth a whole lot, and I personally don't see them as having any value except as shooters.

The Victory S&W is on the other hand, a piece of American history and there are many people out there that would love to have one. If you are absolutely certain that you have to have a lever action rifle, sell the revolver and make your friend an offer on his Winchester. You should be able to make enough extra money to buy a decent quantity of ammo.

Of course, all my free advise comes with a money back guarantee.