I started a thread elsewhere asking if I should buy this gun. Well, I did. I promised pics and here they are. The gun has been well used and I wish it could talk. Built in 1920, I'm sure it has been through a few owners and seen its share of action.

It looks rough, but I couldn't be happier:









I know these pics aren't great, but I wanted to get them up so, just snapped a few. I'll take better pics later.

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Freedom isn't free.

Nice old Saddle Ring Carbine in a classic caliber.
You can find a replacement butt stock for that and a replacement ring for the saddle ring stud on eBay at times.
Be careful though......this is dangerous water you are treading!!!!
Kinda like the Lays commercial......"You can't stop at just one!"

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

If you are familiar with how the '94 comes apart and goes back together may I suggest you disassemble it as best you can and some 4/0 (0000) steel wool and some oil will go along way to making your '94 look even better. The dirt that is in between the mag tube and the barrel and forend will easily come off with any decent oil. Any rust and the steel wool and oil should take care of that. Nice '94 hope you enjoy it. Love mine. Frank

Old Winchesters seem to sneak into your system. Comes in through the optic nerves, followed closely by feel or touch and sweaty palms.

Smell of the old wood may have a little of a campfire left on it.

Then one operates the action. Snick, snick, every little piece moves like silk in lard, smooooth.

Pick an old Winchester up, fits ones hand like no other factory made gun. I ain't saying others are bad, only that Winchester had the feel built in.

When the blue is gone and the old pup is grey the nickel steel is pretty much rust free.

Hold it, think of all before you who have looked down that barrel to bring home game or shoot targets in America before WW 2.

Can you smell the old campfires? Does it not feel right in your hands. Are you yet under it's spell?

Can you mount the gun and while looking down the sights see folks dressed in wool hunting coats from long ago?

When you operate the action does it feel like all the old owners are helping you move the lever?

I've owned all 3 old school lever guns, Marlin and I do love them, Savage, it is a wonderful gun and I wish I had one of each caliber. But neither ever gave me the thrill that Winchester does.

You now own more than a gun, you own a piece of history. History tells us that the old 30-30 has taken more deer than any any other and Winchester led the pack.

It's really in pretty good shape considering its age. I'd take it in a skinny minute.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Nice find! Give it some love and a little elbow grease. A 94 is a special carbine.

Congrats on the '94, they are sweet little rifles. I have one too, from 1909.

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-Roger

I suggest you have the headspace checked before shooting it. The gun has had the barrel and mag tube replaced at some point in time. I think I see a "Mail order proof mark" (wide oval with a "P") in front of the "definitive Winchester proof" ("P", superimposed over a "W" in a tall oval). "Mail order proof" barrels were sold as parts to qualified buyers, but there's no guarantee where the barrel went from there. The pipe wrench marks near the caliber marking leads me to believe that the work may not have been done by a proper gunsmith.

The top tang markings on your gun were used between serial numbers 750,000 and 940,000 and were discontinued in the early 1920's. That style barrel, with a ramp front sight and the barrel band behind the ramp wasn't introduced until the late 1930's on the "transitional" carbines (around serial number 1,110,000). The caliber marking on your barrel (".30-30 WIN") dates it to even later, as Winchester was still marking the barrels ".30 W.C.F." at serial number 1,495,000 (mid-1940's).

The original front sight on a SRC with your tang markings would have looked like this:


I apologize for being the bearer of bad news, but I thought you should know. It may prove to be OK to shoot as is, but better safe than sorry. At $250, you didn't get hurt... yet.

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"I also cook."

Winchesters,,,,,You gotta love'em ! It may be rough looking but it has class and it has history!
I have one in .32 special from 1926, it has slash marks filed into the lever ? If only it could talk.
Enjoy it!

Now you tell me. Where were you yesterday? I put about 15 rounds through it this morning with no ill affect.

I was wondering what those marks were from. It makes perfect sense that the barrel was replaced at one time.


No need to apologize. This is why I post stuff here. I knew absolutely nothing about this gun when I bought it. Now I know more. OK, so, it's probably not worth much, but it still suits me just fine. At this price I'm OK with the "character" you pointed out.

It does open again the potential for having it refinished. I probably won't, but now I know it won't hurt it to have it done because it's already been futzed with.

Thanks for providing this info.

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Freedom isn't free.

Even with the changes made to your, they are still fun.......

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Go big or stay home

The 94's are great fun. I have one made in 1901 in .32 special. I reload for it and keep the pressures low. It has a crescent butt pad and let's you know you've just shot a rifle.

I started with one in 1969 a Daisy 1894 BB gun and it can be very addictive. I switched to centerfire 94's when I was 18 and I have most of the calibers they were made in except 32-40. They are fun to shoot.

Congrats on a nice old shooter.
A thorough cleanup (and checkout) will do wonders.

I never really got into collecting Winchesters (shame on me) but I do have a few. Old Winchester rifles are to be treasured.
94 Carbine in .25-35 from 1950
64 Carbine in .30-30 from 1935 – An original police gun from Sioux City, Iowa
88 .308 from 1961
94 .32-40 with a 26 Inch Octagon Barrel from 1897
64 .32 Win. Rifle From 1945
1892 .44-40 Saddle Ring Carbine from 1929

great character!

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Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442