Found a nice Pre-64 Model 94 Winchester 30/30, a friend at my gun club is liquidating a collection of 360 long guns! Asked him if he had any Winchester 30/30's, he allowed that he did...

I have been looking for a good condition Model 94, most of the ones I have looked at have been worn out or molested in some way, holes drilled in the reciever for a scope mount, drivers license number etched into the metal, etc. This one is original and unmolested, serial number dates it to 1949.

Picked it up on Tuesday of this week, and have put about 100 rounds through it since. Fellow gun enthusiasts ask me why I'm shooting it, "It's a collectable!" My reply is that is has certainly been shot in the past, why not some more? I probably won't take it canoeing or put it in a saddle scabbard, if I hunt with it it will only be on sunny days and no dragging it through briar patches. I have other rifles for rough duty.

This gun can shoot! The target shown below is one I shot this morning, a mild cast lead handload (165 grain lead flat point at 1200 FPS) shot from the prone postion at 50 yards. Group size almost exactly one inch square, silver dollar shown for size comparison.

Now, if I can find a nice Winchester 94/22, my gun buying days will be over, just like Swissman!

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Funny you mentioned the DL numbers engraved into guns, this is see entirely too often. Just last week a family friend brought a few old guns by, they'd been in her family for years and she just wanted to know what they were. She had a fairly rough Colt 1903, a pretty nice Colt 1877 Lightning and a NIB mid-'50's production baby Browning. Each gun had a DL number engraved on the gun.

Why on earth would someone ruin decent gun like this? Whomever invented the electric pencil should burn in hell!

Your lever gun is still one of the most beautiful firearms ever made. Congratulations on your acquisition!

Winchester Model 1894. The original assault rifle.
Nice

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Dum spiramus tuebimur

Beautiful Winchester! I just picked up a 9422M XTR a couple weeks ago. Love it!

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Misty

Great find - Congrats. I have one - a 1957 vintage in near mint condition and love it. Like you, I shoot it, but don't abuse it.

[QUOTE=
Now, if I can find a nice Winchester 94/22, my gun buying days will be over, just like Swissman![/QUOTE]

Don't happen to need a M71 DeLuxe with that bunch of Winchesters do you..?

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Regards,
Windjammer

Windjammer,

It will probably be a while before I can move into the Winchester Model 71 Deluxe level of Winchester collecting....

To think all of this lever rifle madness started a year ago with a Winchester "Ranger" 30/30. Bought it because it was cheap and I needed a knock around rifle that I wouldn't be afraid to ding up. It was so much fun to shoot that I started looking at other lever rifles, three Marlins and two Winchesters later I am a confirmed lever rifle fan!

Steave,

I think Mcgruff The Crime Dog told all gun owners to etch their drivers license into their guns back in the 70's and 80's. Seems like 25% of them listened, and did the dogs bidding! I wish I had a dollar for every gun I have seen marred with an etching gun.

I own 3 pre-64 mdl94's, 2 in 30/30 and 1 in 32 Winchester Special. None are "collector" quality, just honest old hunting gus and that is exactly how they will stay. So far I have killed 4 deer with them. I enjoy looking them over when in the field, wondering what other hunts they have been on and who carried them.

Now when you totally lose it on lever guns, find a pre-64 mdl 64, preferably a 64 Delux "The Deer Rifle". I stumbled on one years ago in 99% or better condition(the original sling came with it!!) and was intending on hunting with it. Its TOO nice. I cant do it. I have shot it a few times and it is a dream to shoot! Made in the 1920's, wow what a rifle!

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Nothing to see here,move along

I have a Winchester model 94 lever action 30 30, s/n 1080602, iron sights with an old after market peep sight. About 70 years old; it was my father's. I am retiring it from deer hunting although it still functions perfectly and has been very effective on a number of white tails. Looking to sell it but, as is often the case, I am not sure what it is worth. Shall I trade it in on a new deer rifle? I plan to buy a Savage accu-trigger 30.06 bolt action and get a 3-9x40 scope.
May trade in my 25+ year old Ugartechea 12 ga side by side, English style. It has never been fired and is new in the box.
Ideas or interest, let me know.

I have seen a lot of SS numbers engraved on guns as well. I once bought a Series 70 1911 that the owner had engraved the serial number under the grips. It was not a happy find when I got the gun home. Fortunately the gun was shooter quality and I got it for a good price. I sanded it out and touched it up with cold blue.

Hell I'm there on the model 94 if you're trying to sell it off lol.

I dont hunt deer anymore because my wife wont eat bambi. My ex wife wouldnt either. Before that and in between wifes I hunted every year. I have something like 8 or 9 more modern bolts, auto and pump rifles. I bought this 94 new in about 1958 when I was 17. I soon added a pad for extra LOP, and a williams foolproof peep. I highly recomend a peep! No, I dont like the looks of the peep either but its undeniably better and far more accurate than the open buckhorn. I havent had to readjust mine since I mounted it 52 years ago! I benched it last year and its still spot on! I always carried it with me as a spare when I got into a lot of other rifles as I progressed. When I think about it, I killed most of my deer with it. I and a friend were hunting. It was the last moment of the hunt for the year. We seen some grouse driveing out and got out with our shotguns. It was miserable weather in the sierras in california. Heavy wet snow mixed with rain. A number of deer kicked up when my buddy shot at the grouse. He yelled as the deer were trotting up the mountain. I ran back to the truck about 40 yards get my rifle. I was going to get my scoped winchester model 70, 300 H&H that I had been useing, but it was out of reach put away, and there was my old 94 spare in reach closer and faster to get in action. I grabbed it instead and ran back up the slope. The deer were now standing a long ways up the mountain. The small buck had hung back and was standing kind of sky lighted on a high ridge. It was snowing and raining. I started to aim and my glass,s were wet, had to take them off. I aimed and shot, allowed for a lot of drop. The deer dropped like it was pole axed! It really had to be more luck than marksmanship on my part! We counted off over 220 long paces checking the distance down hill from the deer! I probley shouldnt have even tried the shot under the bad circumstances. I was also out of wind and had to shoot off hand. I probley couldnt have repeated that shot in many trys!

I understand the love affair for the Winchester 94, but I am in utter amazement at the prices. Probably get burned for this, but for me the 94 in 30/30 has never been a got to collect item. Seemed everybody and their brother, mother, father, aunt, uncle, had one. Use to be able to pick up a like new one that had maybe a box full of ammo through it, for $100 $150. Now asking prices seem to be $400, even for the truck gun that hasn't been out of the rear window in 10 years, and marred up from the rack. No disrespect, as they are fine guns, but like a lot of gun, realistic values have gone out the door.

True, but think about this. As I recall I gave about $65s for that 30-30 in 1958. In todays dollars that should be over $500s. Even so their other guns are well above that by maybe double! Far as the 94 goes at least they are blue steel and walnut, not glass and plastic. There probley isnt a more proven gun. I also have this model 64 made in 1952. I was lucky and paid I think about $200s for it about in 1975. It looked unfired and I have only shot a box or two through it. There is a draw to those old lever winchesters and I own about 4 of them and a couple clone 92s. I also own a 1st or 2nd year 88 and a 95 carbine.

love them winchesters!

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WILL WORK FOR AMMO!

Canoeguy, that is a fine looking pre-64! Someone took care of it, like it deserved to be taken care of! Enjoy it! Did someone say 9422? I never refuse a chance to show off my 9422 Magnum XTR....

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Misty

This 1899 vintage rifle has ridden so many miles in a saddle scabbard that the bead front sight is nearly worn off.