You know the rest.

Don't hold back, please. Tell me if this is worth having, IYHO. Most folks wouldn't put a scope on a Model 94, including me. Now that it's done, it can't be undone. At least, the period-correct scope is decent: it's a Redfield 4x "Frontier." Clean glass.
Walnut furniture.
The D&T'd sintered receiver dates to 1972.

I have a relationship with a local pawn shop that allowed me to put this on layaway with little down (so, I did). They afford me the luxury of backing out for a full refund of my $20 (meanwhile holding it in the back). This way, I can think it over and back out, if I so choose. The price: $650.

I know I may have impulsively put it on layaway.
I gave it a good cleaning on the shop counter, removing the scope and mount in the process. The bore is mirror-bright.

Thoughts? ...Should I just run away?!
-Bill

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

I would purchase this rifle in a heartbeat

Just plug the side mount holes with short screws (or whatever they call those plugs) if you don't like that setup.
That is a decent deal nowadays.

FWIW: I have a scoped '94 in .32 Win Spl. The price was right, and whoever mounted the scope, did a great job. It would be difficult for me to walk away from the one you posted. Good luck with your decision.

Winchester ‘94s are always neat, and 30-30Win
is always a good utilitarian cartridge.

That one appears to be in very well kept condition.
Price appears not too shabby.

The Best to you and your Endeavors.

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

I have one just like it. One of my favorites. Given the opportunity for another, I wouldn't walk away.

Norseman,
When it was first pulled off the rack and handed to me I observed a few pinpoint small rust spots on the receiver. (No rust whatsoever on the barrel or magazine tube.) The scope and scope mount had some rough-feeling spots, as well. I just so happened to have my cleaning kit in my truck... Lol!
A little oil on the rough spots, followed by an easy going-over with copper wool and now so much better! I think the rough surface areas on the scope & mount was like a sticky resin. Now, they appear as new... beautifully finished.

Thanks everyone!
I appreciate the good feedback.
-Bill

Full View of Other Side

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

I might be the odd man out, but for $650 I would not be interested. I still see pre-64's in decent shape around here for that or little more.. That's the way I would go. FWIW.

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Everybody could shoot

Totally agree. Unless I was looking for something to actually hunt with there is no way I would pay that for a D&T 94.

THANK YOU.

All opinions are solicited & welcome.

Honestly, I don't know if I've ever seen in my area a pre-64 Winchester lever action that wasn't well beyond my budget. I'm not sure why that is... I get out a LOT.

I was happy to come across this '72 example (I also have a '68 Model 94, a gift from my FIL) but was disappointed that the receiver had been altered. I gotta' admit though, the scope has a great sight picture.
(I know... blasphemy!) Heh heh heh.

-Bill

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

Unless I am displaying it, I am more concerned about functionality than period correctness.

Not being aware enough of Winchesters, my guess from the images is that the gun you are showing is a rifle length chambering, your posts do not mention the actual cartridge. Though the Norseman's response mentions 30-30. If there is a giveaway in the images, I just do not know what it is

With Pistol caliber lever or pump guns I would put better sights on or possibly a red dot. I am about to add a tang sight to my 45LC pump rifle, I have several levers already with better sights
Rifle caliber levers could take advantage of a low magnification scope. Perhaps something like a 1-4x or a 2-7x so that you maintain a wide field of view.

I have a Browning BLR in .308 that I often though would benefit from a scope, just never got around to it

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"Acta non verba"

.30-30

Post #7, third picture down. Yes, it's hard to read.

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

I actually looked at that image, but only saw the line that ends with Winchester proof steel.

I never noticed the the line of text above it that is more in shadow

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"Acta non verba"

I guess I'd be asking myself what the value of the rifle (a post 64 Model 94 in 30-30) would be w/o the aftermarket D&T job done.

Is the rifle with the aftermarket scope added a good deal at 650?,,something you can use and/or have been looking for?

Or is it just something that has presented itself, you took to it and the $650 price seems pretty good as well..

It looks like a nice clean rifle. I don't know what the value of the Redfield scope itself is,,it was a very common model.

You can never be assured where the rifle will shoot with a side mount.
Sometimes, the scope doesn't have enough windage adjustment available to bring the crosshair far enough over to compensate for the off side mounting of the scope.
How far off board the mount itself places the center of the scope has a lot to do with it.
Sometimes mount base is shimmed to tilt the scope towards the bore center and make up for any short adjustment field.

Seems to me like the price is high for a post 64 '94 that has been D&T'd .
But on the other hand if a scoped 94 is what you actually want ,,,
there it is and nice one at that.

That’s on me… mea culpa!
I posted a poor quality picture, as far as caliber legibility is concerned.

Again, thanks everyone for your opinions.

A little late, but…



-Bill

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

I put scopes on the '94AE/44Mag and the 9422 just to see how accurate they are.
Did the same with a 17-4 and other handguns.
Irons on all of them now.

Enjoy that lever OP.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

A few thoughts:

1) 4-5 years ago there was a slump in Winchester lever gun prices and you could find an excellent condition pre-64 20” carbine in .30-30 for $550-600. I bought three of them during that period of time, one for my father in law that I got back when he passed.

That slump didn’t last and they are now up around the $1000-$1200 range with pre WWII Winchesters bringing a lot more. The interesting part however is that during that same time I’d see 1964-1981 era Model 94 20” carbines in .30-30 right next to the Pre-64s for only about $100 less ($450-500) in just good condition.

At the time I thought that reflected two things:

- the increasing value of the the 1964-1981 Model 94s as they didn’t carry a premium for collector value and didn’t have the Angle Eject, rebounding hammer or safety systems inflicted on the later Model 94s; and

- the $1300 or so purchase price of a new Miroku made Winchester Model 94.

I don’t think much has changed. The 1964-1981 Model 94s are excellent shooters with the classic Model 94 operating system and quarter cock “safety”. Those features are in high demand and are unlikely to be made again by Winchester.

From that perspective, $650 for a 1972 Model 94 in that condition is a good price, even with the 4 holes from the infamous Weaver side mount. Weaver sold those unsightly things for a number of lever and bolt action rifles and who ever designed them should have been taken out and shot. That’s especially true with the Model that already had three perfectly suitable holes for a scope mount.



2) Similarly, in the last couple years I have watched commemorative Model 94s, especially the less gaudy commemoratives, virtually disappear from local gun shops.

Lever gun shooters have figured out it is a great way to get what amounts to an “XTR” Model 94 for very decent prices as they never really appreciated much more than just keeping pace with inflation. It’s also a great way to get a rifle or short rifle pattern Model 94 rifles without paying the $1300 plus for a new Winchester that will have a tang safety.

A few years ago I picked up a 1926 vintage Model 94 in the standard 26” rifle pattern, with a round barrel and a trap door in the butt stock for a cleaning rod. Other than the trap door it was pretty common but it was in very good condition. I paid $1000 for it IIRC and it was a very good deal.

Last November I bought a 26” Winchester Classic 94, which was a Rifle pattern Model 94 sold in both 20” and 26” lengths. They made 47,000 of them from 1966 to 1970. The Classic was more or less a non commemorative version of the Canadian Centennial rifle with semi fancy wood, some minor engraving and a gold plated loading gate. Still, it’s not overly gaudy and with 47,000 made they are shooters, not collectibles. They were intended that way as Winchester tried to dig its way out of the hole it had dug with the 1964 changes. This 1966 model still had a stamped lifter but it didn’t have the roll pins that were in the 64 models. The stamped lifter is a bit unsightly but it works just fine. At $600 it was also a bargain as it was in near mint condition.

It also shoots very well with 2 MOA 5 shot groups, on par with my 1926 Model 94 rifle, with a bore showing some evidence of corrosive priming and less than perfect cleaning. That’s good news as it’s job is to be the go too woods gun, rather than risk damaging the 1926 Model 94.



3). Accuracy wise, my pre-64 carbines all shoot 1.5 MOA 5 shot groups with Winchester 150 gr round nose soft point ammo or handloads with 150 gr RNSP bullets.

My 1964-1981 era rifle patter Winchesters (the Classic in .30-30 and a pair of Legendary Frontiersman in .38-55) all shoot 2 MOA. I think that reflects the more careful fitting on commemoratives along the lines of the XTR treatment in the years when that was a thing.

The two 1964-1981 non XTR Model 94 carbines I have owned (both 20”) shot 3 to 4 MOA.

Consequently, the only reservation I might have with a 1972 Model 94 carbine would be in the accuracy department. But 4 MOA in a .30-30 Model 94 is still 8” at 200 yards and that’s both about as far as you’ll shoot one in practical hunting and it’s good enough to hit the 10”-12” vital zone on a deer.

I’d remove the scope, put plug screws in the holes and drill and tap the tang for a Marbles Tang sight. You retain the wonderful handling of the Model 94, while benefitting from a tang sight that will maximize its accuracy and help older eyes focus on the front sight.

I like lever guns but all of my BLR's and 94 Big Bores have been scoped. With cartridges carrying the potential for shots over 200 yards, why would you not scope them? I have a 94 that wears a receiver sight which I consider the only other option. One of my 92's has that the other is scoped. Bottom line is they are my guns and I keep them how they allow me to get the most out of them.

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Front sight and squeeze

This right here ^...took the words right out of my mouth!

I have almost the same rifle with a Weaver scope mount, only no scope. Also the rifle is the Sears Ted Williams Model 100. I'd like to find a scope for it, but I don't hunt anymore. I'd just like the rifle to be complete. It looks like it came from the factory with the scope included. It's still a Winchester-made rifle and it cycles nice, I just never shot it yet. The 94 is a good PA deer hunting rifle, like the Marlin 30-30. Open sights served me well, but if I have it set up for a scope, I'll do it someday.
This one cost me $250 last year. I'll try to post pic.

The Sears 100 TedWilliams /Winchester 94 was factory D&T'd for a side mount.

Sears contracted them to be built that way, Winchester gladly obliged

Ig going to hunt with it, a couple of deer in the freezer and it pays for itself. If hunting open terrain, the scope will help with the shot..if in the brush, just a hinderance to fast target acquisition. If not planning on hunting with it, I would personally walk away, consider a side scoped 94 less desirable as a collectors piece than non-scoped.

Why would someone drill and tap that when Weaver (who made the mount that's on it) makes a mount specifically for the three screw holes already on the side of that gun (mounts to the peep sight holes and the finger lever pin stop screw hole)? People baffle me...

I just traded in to a shop a not-D&T'd Winchester of slightly newer vintage for a late-'70s Ruger Single Six convertible in stainless plus $50 (bought the gun three years ago for $250). That $650 seems really high to me, but gun prices, especially on leverguns in my area, have gotten stupid -- like $1,000 for a Remlin Marlin 336 kind of stupid.

My thoughts, exactly. I honestly couldn't remember the screw configuration before I removed the side mount. When I pulled it off and saw the four added taps, well... it hurt my eyes! Lol!

On a nicer note, I did like the overall condition of this 50 year old lever action.
No buggered screws.
Good remaining finish.
Featuring improvements that came in 1972, as I understand it, working the action just feels and sounds better than my 1968 example having a stamped carrier.

-Bill

Just a Few More...



Machined Locking Bolt



Deep Bluing



Walnut Furniture Returns After Hiatus!



By 1972, Stamped Carriers Replaced with Cast (MIM) Carriers

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

Only suggestions here, not criticisms... If your vision requires a scope, use a scope. If your vision allows, however, consider an aperture sight. Your '94 is probably drilled and tapped on the left side for one. Lyman still makes one that will easily attach. They are inexpensive and work as well as a low-powered scope for .30-30 ranges (about 150 yards).

Many of today's younger shooters are unaware of the advantages of aperture sights. An added bonus is that they don't ruin the fine lines of the '94 like a scope does, the same as putting an optical or red dot sight on a handgun. Again, though, use a scope if it's necessary for your vision. Good luck whatever your choice-

*Apologies in advance for reviving this thread for those who couldn't care less! LOL

Thank you all for your comments and shared experiences.

Today, I grabbed the 1968 M-94 carbine given to me by my father-in-law and I headed back to the shop where the '72 carbine is on layaway. I took some side-by-side pictures for reference and comparison. But, the most noteworthy difference between the two post-64 examples is the feel of the action. Yes, I know it's not one of the "better" vintage Winchester 94 carbines of the mid-20th Century. For the money, I'm leaning toward paying it off and bringing it home.

What can I say?... I JUST REALLY LIKE IT!

I hope this has been somewhat informative for others.
I know it really has been for me - & I thank you!

-Bill

1968 Carbine, Top
1972 Carbine, Bottom

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

Wow! I really like both those Winchester Rifles!

Nice collection going there. Please give a Range
Review when you shoot them.

Again, the Best to you and your Endeavors.

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

I would rather spend a few hundred more dollars and buy an unaltered pre-64 Model 94.
And maybe install a period correct Redfield or Lyman receiver sight since the late Model 94's were factory D&T for them. But a scope ? No way.

For $650 or a bit more you could buy a pre-Remington or Ruger manufacture Marlin Model 336 which has side eject and is D&T for a scope if you really wanted a .30-30 scoped carbine.

I picked up a pre 64 some years ago with that side mounted scope set up for a song even back then. It did not work for me since I shoot a rifle left handed. Took it off, plugged the holes and have a wonderful pre 64 for cheap.

Picked up a super nice XLR from a dumb kid selling his dead grandfathers rifle to fund a trip to Vegas. I did not feel bad about that low price at all.... looks like it was hardly shot. Being an Angle eject it worked much better than the side mount and was really accurate. I gave that one to my son and have regretted letting it go ever since.

Prices on lever actions have gone up, and eyesight has gone down in recent years. Both are likely to get worse...if you like I would buy it.

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Plastic has no soul