I checked the serial number on a Model 94 given to me recently and found it was manufactured in 1954 (older than I thought). 19" barrel w/hooded front sight(post with white dot, drift adjustable). The rear sight has a wide, nearly semi-circular notch which is narrowed to a V by an insert held in place with one screw. Rifle has seen less than 50 shots, wood is good, receiver has an inch long scratch. Now the bad news...the receiver was drilled with 3 holes to mount a scope...does that negate the value of the gun, or was it not worth much to begin with (other than as a shooter)?
Winchester Model 94
- Thread starter Jst1mr
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CavalryJim
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I would guess that the Win 94 is currently appreciating in value faster than most other guns. That said, there were millions of them produced so they aren't very scarce….but the days of $200 Winchesters has past. Yes, the drilled & tapped receiver would reduce the value to a collector but not necessarily to a hunter/shooter. Without seeing it, I would price it around $400 - $500....the pre-64 crowd may disagree.
BigGunsMoreFun
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I'd Agree with CavalryJim
$400 to $500 sounds about right. You might get the lower end because of the drilled, tapped mess for a scope.
I don't understand folks that put a scope on a nice old lever gun. Especially one that is only accurate to 100-150 yards at the most. I guess some folks just never develop a good feel for iron sights. Others just can't see that good as they get older. Still it kills me every time I see a nice old lever gun ruined by someone putting a scope on it.
A "real" gunsmith can restore the rifle to its original pre-drilled and tapped condition where you can't tell it was ever drilled and tapped. Good luck finding a "real" gunsmith these days. They are few and far between and usually very busy.
Most of the folks I have seen in the past couple of decades that call themselves gunsmiths are just parts changers that took the AGI Gunsmithing Course on VHS. Not that there is anything wrong with AGI or their courses. I just believe that once you finish their course you are possibly a good apprentice to a gunsmith. It takes years of actually working on guns to become a "real" gunsmith and most of the "real" gunsmiths laugh if you tell them you graduated from AGI's gunsmithing course.
Good luck with your gun. If you restore it, it will be worth a lot more if the restoration is done right. Those old pre-64 lever guns just keep going up in value.
Molon Labe,
Joe
$400 to $500 sounds about right. You might get the lower end because of the drilled, tapped mess for a scope.
I don't understand folks that put a scope on a nice old lever gun. Especially one that is only accurate to 100-150 yards at the most. I guess some folks just never develop a good feel for iron sights. Others just can't see that good as they get older. Still it kills me every time I see a nice old lever gun ruined by someone putting a scope on it.
A "real" gunsmith can restore the rifle to its original pre-drilled and tapped condition where you can't tell it was ever drilled and tapped. Good luck finding a "real" gunsmith these days. They are few and far between and usually very busy.
Most of the folks I have seen in the past couple of decades that call themselves gunsmiths are just parts changers that took the AGI Gunsmithing Course on VHS. Not that there is anything wrong with AGI or their courses. I just believe that once you finish their course you are possibly a good apprentice to a gunsmith. It takes years of actually working on guns to become a "real" gunsmith and most of the "real" gunsmiths laugh if you tell them you graduated from AGI's gunsmithing course.
Good luck with your gun. If you restore it, it will be worth a lot more if the restoration is done right. Those old pre-64 lever guns just keep going up in value.
Molon Labe,
Joe
Did it come with the scope on it? I'm suspicious of 3 holes. Most of the older Weaver mounts used 4 holes I think, but in any case,...it may have factory holes. Weaver makes a mount that uses the 2 small receiver sight holes for the rear mount point, and the large lever pin plug screw for the front end. 1955 had factory drilled and tapped receiver sight holes, I don't know what year they started.
If it turns out that your gun has factory holes, but has a mount on it, you need the small lever pin plug screw, they changed in 1964 to a larger size.
I didn't know the 94's were only accurate to maybe 100 to 150 yards. Guess I better quit shooting mine out to 300+ yards.
Most of the 94's will shoot 2 1/2" @ 100 yards, some better, depending on if you find a load it likes, and have decent sights, like a receiver sight and square blade front, like a sourdough (or a scope
). A little tuning helps some guns too.
I would guess that the cost of restoring a 94 of that vintage would cost much more than the gain in value, if it has been drilled and tapped outside the factory.
If it turns out that your gun has factory holes, but has a mount on it, you need the small lever pin plug screw, they changed in 1964 to a larger size.
I didn't know the 94's were only accurate to maybe 100 to 150 yards. Guess I better quit shooting mine out to 300+ yards.
Most of the 94's will shoot 2 1/2" @ 100 yards, some better, depending on if you find a load it likes, and have decent sights, like a receiver sight and square blade front, like a sourdough (or a scope
). A little tuning helps some guns too.I would guess that the cost of restoring a 94 of that vintage would cost much more than the gain in value, if it has been drilled and tapped outside the factory.
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