Flashback to the summer of 1981. I had heard that Winchester was selling its New Haven, Connecticut plant to a new outfit that called itself U.S. Repeating Arms Company, and that in August, all Winchester guns would be made by that new company formed by former Winchester employees.
The plant in New Haven had been turning out Winchester Model 1894s for 87 years, and the last true '94 carbines were now on the dealers' shelves. I was then living in El Paso, Texas, and in those days J.C. Penney sold guns. I ran down there to get one of the very last ones. I paid $150 plus tax for it on Aug. 22, and squirreled it away. I think I shot it just one time - maybe about 10 shots.
I had secured one of the very last guns proudly made by Winchester - the real McCoy. Now I realize that the guns made by USRAC were still stamped "Winchester," but to my mind, the newer ones weren't for real. As I expected, the new outfit changed the old '94s by making them "angle eject" and then, horror of horrors, put crossbolt safeties on them. These were eyesores almost as evil as the internal locks S&W uses today. I tried to fire one of those once, not noticing that the crossbolt was engaged, and the @#$% rifle went "click" instead of "bang." John Browning was rolling over in his grave.
The old '94 has probably taken down more deer in the U.S. than any other rifle made, and it did the job admirably without scopes. It had everything you needed, was lightweight, powerful enough to do the job, and handy. In a pinch, it made a great home defense weapon as well. When you say "thirty-thirty" it's the gun you picture in your mind.
I think I have one of the last of the old breed, maybe in fact THE last, and I thought I'd share a picture of it. It bears serial number 4,969,094. I thought the last two digits were very fitting. Hail and farewell, old '94. We miss ya.
John
The plant in New Haven had been turning out Winchester Model 1894s for 87 years, and the last true '94 carbines were now on the dealers' shelves. I was then living in El Paso, Texas, and in those days J.C. Penney sold guns. I ran down there to get one of the very last ones. I paid $150 plus tax for it on Aug. 22, and squirreled it away. I think I shot it just one time - maybe about 10 shots.
I had secured one of the very last guns proudly made by Winchester - the real McCoy. Now I realize that the guns made by USRAC were still stamped "Winchester," but to my mind, the newer ones weren't for real. As I expected, the new outfit changed the old '94s by making them "angle eject" and then, horror of horrors, put crossbolt safeties on them. These were eyesores almost as evil as the internal locks S&W uses today. I tried to fire one of those once, not noticing that the crossbolt was engaged, and the @#$% rifle went "click" instead of "bang." John Browning was rolling over in his grave.
The old '94 has probably taken down more deer in the U.S. than any other rifle made, and it did the job admirably without scopes. It had everything you needed, was lightweight, powerful enough to do the job, and handy. In a pinch, it made a great home defense weapon as well. When you say "thirty-thirty" it's the gun you picture in your mind.
I think I have one of the last of the old breed, maybe in fact THE last, and I thought I'd share a picture of it. It bears serial number 4,969,094. I thought the last two digits were very fitting. Hail and farewell, old '94. We miss ya.
John
