Winchester 94 3030

[hapidogbreath]

I inherited a Winchester Model 94 in 3030. Looking on line in a few places to try to find out when it was born. Near as I can figure it's 61 or 62 SR# is 253XXXX. Has some pitting and light surface rust in places has seen some long days in the field. Action is smooth and barrel looks good. Is it worth keeping??? or should I liquidate it. If so whats a good starting place???

 

[1KPerDay]

Is it worth keeping???

Um, yes.

 

[joed]

Keep it, that is a desirable rifle. I don't shoot lever action very much but I won't part with any of them.

 

[Newtosavage]

If you decide not to keep it - I realize not everyone is a levergun fan these days - then at least make sure it goes to a good home. Rifles like that are becoming more and more rare, and for those of us who grew up on them, we really appreciate a good pre-64 model 94.

 

[jmr40]

I'd keep it unless you just need the cash. Even in that shape I'd guess value at $500+. The pre WW-2 Winchesters are the ones that have the real value. Quality didn't just drop off a cliff in 1964. There were some design and manufacturing changes in 1964, but quality had been slipping since the end of the war. But it is still better than most anything between 1964 and 2006. The new Japanese made Winchesters are nice, but pricey.

 

[HPJeep]

If its all original then keep it. If bubba'd over the years then it's not worth much. Without seeing it I'd say $500 might be a starting point.

 

[hapidogbreath]

If its all original then keep it. If bubba'd over the years then it's not worth much. Without seeing it I'd say $500 might be a starting point.

As far as I can tell... All original. Scratches around screws but everything looks tight. I'm leaning towards keeping it.

 

[Armored farmer]

Consider it a shootable IRA.
It will only get more valuable with time.

 

[mustanger98]

I inherited a Winchester Model 94 in 3030. Looking on line in a few places to try to find out when it was born. Near as I can figure it's 61 or 62 SR# is 253XXXX. Has some pitting and light surface rust in places has seen some long days in the field. Action is smooth and barrel looks good. Is it worth keeping??? or should I liquidate it. If so whats a good starting place???

Nice. As was mentioned, pre-'64 is good, but not as collectably pricey as pre-WW2.

I'd recommend taking that rust off with 0000 steel wool and 3-in-1 oil. Some say otherwise, but I've done it. It works without removing the blueing.

Well worth keeping. I'd take it out to the range... with 150gr and 170gr ammo... and get acquainted. IMO, it'd be well worth hunting with.

 

[Newtosavage]

"A shootable IRA..."

I love that.

 

[hapidogbreath]

"A shootable IRA..."

I love that.

Me Too. Gonna keep her!!!

 

[Frostbite]

Keep it. These rifles are fun to shoot, they carry extremely well and reload easily on the move if ever needed. The caliber is perfect for deer hunting at usual hunting distance. It is not a 28" bull barrel 6.5 Creedmoor blueprinted bolt action topped with a 4.5-12x42 scope with a six inches shade; it is different, it has another purpose, still, quite pertinent. Even the ammo is affordable and plentiful, what's not to like? Go shoot that rifle and enjoy it!

 

[ridgerunner1965]

I have several pre 64 Winchesters that my dad and grandparents owned.i don't shoot them much but wont be parting with them in this lifetime.

I figure if they took such good care of them to get them to this point, I can carry that on.

I just wish they could talk.

however if yu have no attachment to your benefactor. by all means pass them on to a good home.

 

[mustanger98]

Me Too. Gonna keep her!!!

 

[mushu]

i love the old pre 64 Winchester whether their mod 70's or mod 94's

 

[hapidogbreath]

i love the old pre 64 Winchester whether their mod 70's or mod 94's

How do you tell if it's a MOD 70 or 94??? I don't se anything on it to indicate what it is other than a 94.

Thanks for any Info.

 

[ccoyle]

I inherited a 94 from my grandfather. It's a classic firearm, and like others have said, its value continues to go up every year. I prefer optics to open sights, but I made sure to take at least one deer with Grampa's gun before I passed it along to my son.

 

[Newtosavage]

Model 70's are bolt actions.

 

[mustanger98]

It's typically stamped on the left side of the barrel behind the rear sight.

 

[ThomasT]

I have a Winchester 94 made in 1981 and made my first 30-30 deer kill with it this year. It worked as expected. I wouldn't trade mine for a brand new AR any day of the week.

 

[hapidogbreath]

It's typically stamped on the left side of the barrel behind the rear sight.

Model 70's are bolt actions.

Thank you!!! I had no idea.

Andrrew

 

[Hookeye]

Pops has one w killer wood.
When he goes, it goes.
Have no love of the 94, or lever guns.
Some folks do, and that is fine.

IMHO if you think you'd like to keep it, then do.
Once it's gone it's gone.
You might regret it down the road.

If you are like me and have no love for the 30-30 or a 94, then dump it.
Preferably to a family member that likes such things.
That way it stays in the family and you might have a chance at it later if you change your mind.

I'm not much on sentimental stuff. Some folks are.

 

[Hookeye]

Just sayin' it aint eatin' anything, even if you don't think you'll use it, and you don't need the money...............oil it up and stick in the back of the safe.
You might get the itch to use it 10 yrs from now, or your kid might.
Everybody ooos and ahhhhs about the pre 64 model 94.
They pop up now and then at my LGS.............but unless minty, they're shooters.......and don't command what folks think they should.
Yeah there's some of that leveraged for haggling, but the minty ones sell, the slightlyu worn ones do too, at significantly lesser price.
One that has pitting..........it's a shooter.
And even then, it will probably appreciate in value, while you use it.

But then, most any decent rig does.

 

[Hookeye]

Best thing IMHO is to use the gun as the prev owner intended.
Its not mint, so go shoot a buck with it.
The rifle and antlers make for a cool story, one that might excite somebody else in the family, have them do the same when it's passed to them.
That's the kinda thing that makes a rifle special.

My dad said he'd go deer hunting if they allowed handguns. Well they did eventually, and he never shot one.
So when he gave me his .357 I shot a deer with it, and gave it back.
No love of the .357............not even in Python form.

I just wanted a deer with my dad's gun. The event more important to me than the gun.
Maybe I'm just weird.

 

[mustanger98]

Just sayin' it aint eatin' anything, even if you don't think you'll use it, and you don't need the money...............oil it up and stick in the back of the safe.
You might get the itch to use it 10 yrs from now, or your kid might.
Everybody ooos and ahhhhs about the pre 64 model 94.
They pop up now and then at my LGS.............but unless minty, they're shooters.......and don't command what folks think they should.
Yeah there's some of that leveraged for haggling, but the minty ones sell, the slightlyu worn ones do too, at significantly lesser price.
One that has pitting..........it's a shooter.
And even then, it will probably appreciate in value, while you use it.

But then, most any decent rig does.

Best thing IMHO is to use the gun as the prev owner intended.
Its not mint, so go shoot a buck with it.
The rifle and antlers make for a cool story, one that might excite somebody else in the family, have them do the same when it's passed to them.
That's the kinda thing that makes a rifle special.

My dad said he'd go deer hunting if they allowed handguns. Well they did eventually, and he never shot one.
So when he gave me his .357 I shot a deer with it, and gave it back.
No love of the .357............not even in Python form.

I just wanted a deer with my dad's gun. The event more important to me than the gun.
Maybe I'm just weird.

The underlined... that's more or less my thought... connections to family and friends... how memories attach themselves to objects. And as times goes on, we add more stories.