I went Looking for a Winchester 94

I've wanted a Winchester 94 for a few years now, just not enough to actually spend the money. Well, being sick since after Christmas, I've been getting caught-up on the Longmire Series on Netflix. And of course, Walt uses a Winchester 94.

I decided it was time to go out and get one. I didn't want anything with a "safety" and figured it wouldn't be that hard to find a decent older 94 in the $400 to $500 price range. Especially since I live in the South West. After 5 Gun shops, I couldn't find any older 94's. All I saw were a few new ones, Mossbergs and some Marlins.

Who knew you guys in the old west liked your lever guns?

I had 3 more stops left before going home empty handed. My 6th stop was at a local Pawn Shop. They had this nice 1971 94 in 30-30 - everything I was looking for except the price range. It's probably nicer than what I was looking for, and ran me $530 (not OTD). I felt it was worth it for the age and condition. The serial number is 3628xxx. It has a few minor dings, but the bore looks new. Not sure who had it sitting in their closet hardly used for all these years, but I wish they had kept the box to go with it.

Very nice. I had one a few years ago and foolishly sold it. Its back on my short list to get again. Winchesters are where its at for me rifle wise

I don't think you overpaid for one in that condition. Nice carbine!

Does look in great condition. I have noticed even the post 64 Model 94s seem to be increasing in value. Bought one new back in 73. Price was around $100 back then. Can't tell ya much about how the receiver holds up cause I traded it towards a Remington 700. Good luck with yours.

I have a pre 64 in what looks to be in similar nice condition. These are hard to find here in FL and bring an easy $600. IMO you did great!

I think everyone who likes guns should own a Winchester 94.

The 1970s 94s are real sleepers. IMO they are quality guns that lack many of the safeties and plastic parts of later 94s without the price-tag or the pre-64 guns. Well done

IMHO Model 94 prices have gone stupid. Especially on Post 64 guns. I have been looking for a reasonable priced Pre-64 in 32spl and the prices are nuts for a gun you had to beg someone to buy a few years ago.

I ended up buying a Model 71 instead

You did well on a very nice '71 Mod 94.
I have had several Winchester 94s and currently have three and looking for a particular 4th.
Here are two of mine - a 1966 100 year Commemorative and an 1899 Mod 94 'Klondike' Sporting Rifle in .30 WCF.

I remember when I got out of college in the early 80s every gun show had lots of them everywhere and usually a hundred dollar bill would take one home.

I contend that the Winchester lever in a centerfire caliber is on the “5 guns everyone must have” list.

They are still very abundant in Montana....I bought a 1965 vintage '94 with a freckled reciever for $200.00 last fall

Randy

PS. Anyone know how to properly tidy up the freckling on the reciever? I was using bronze wool and Kroil...worked somewhat....anyone know why the 65 vintage 94 recievers freckled like they did? I have seen a number of them at local shops and gunshows..

For years, people looked down on the 1964 to 1981 vintage Model 94s as they didn't have the collector value of the pre-64 Model 94s and were considered inferior due to the post 63 changes.

However, recently shooters have come to understand that these Model 94s have the original quarter cock hammer, rather than a rebounding hammer, and no cross bolt or tang safety, like the post 1981 and post 1990 Model 94s. In addition, the worst of the changes from the pre-64 Model 94 (roll pins and stamped lifters) were gone by 1966. That makes the late 1960s through 1970s Model 94s quite valuable now as shooters.

In fact I've noted that the 1970s era Model 94 carbines are selling for close to what you'd pay for a pre-64 Model 94 in similar condition. For example, I paid $550 for one of these and $600 for the other within the last few years. You'll pay $500 for a 1970's era Model 94 in the same excellent condition.

The softening of the pre-64 Model 94 market is partly due to Model 94 collectors getting old and dying off faster than new Model 94 collectors get interested in them. It's also partly due to WWII being the real cut off point for collector interest, rather than 1963. Manufacturing techniques changed markedly during the war and the pre and post war differences are significant to collectors. That also makes the 1946 to 1964 era a sweet spot for shooters wanting a Model 94 at the moment.



One of the things Winchester also did during this same period was make a LOT of commemoratives - many of them in very large numbers, to the point where collector value is low, even if it's still LNIB with the papers and hang tags, and only about 2/3rd that value if it's not perfect and or doesn't have a box and hang tags in excellent condition.

That makes these rifles excellent values as shooters as well. Below is a Legendary Frontiersman commemorative in .38-55, one of the 19,999 of them made in 1979. Winchester came out with the XTR treatment in 1978 and their commemoratives in the XTR era are all based on the XTR, which makes them a very affordable way to get a very nicely finished Winchester Model 94. This one cost me $800 out the door, with box and hang tags - but I bought it as a shooter as it's a lot less expensive than a current rifle pattern Winchester Model 94, has a nicer finish and has the original operating system.



Below the LF is a Big Bore 94 in .375 Win. Since that cartridge is more or less a handloading proposition only, they can be had for around $600 in excellent condition, and it's a very enjoyable cartridge to shoot.

I enjoy shooting lever rifles, here's my 1972 vintage Model 94, doing cabin front porch duty. This one looks nicer in the photo than in person, has freckling and patina from being hunted hard. The "Carry Point" where the receiver meets the forearm is worn smooth. Still shoots good though, this was a pawn shop find about three years ago, $300 brought this one home....

Yes the model 94s have their charm.

And they will grow on you. Personally I like the rifle versions. But I have a few carbines as well.

Farmer17 said:

I remember when I got out of college in the early 80s every gun show had lots of them everywhere and usually a hundred dollar bill would take one home.

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Those were the days!!
Hard to believe the 80s were 30-40 years ago!

Ed

Thanks for all the great info. I really didn't know a lot about these going into this, other then I didn't want any kind of added safety.

I've already got a few boxes of 30-30 sitting around which I think I've had for about 20 years? I think I had a Marlin 30-30 back than for awhile, but I can't remember?

I've forgotten more about what guns I've owned in the past than I can remember. Although I do recall having a 94 trapper for awhile. Don't recall the caliber though.

Winchester has always been my preferred lever action. I've got about a half dozen ranging in caliber from .22LR to .45-70.
Right now I have three Model 94s. A standard .30-30 Carbine and a pair of Trappers in .44 Magnum and .45 Colt.
You just can't go wrong with a Model 94.

Growr: I can't remember the exact years (60s-70s?), but at one time Winchester changed the steel in the receivers. The finish was noted for wearing very quickly and being almost impossible to reblue. There's a lot of them out there that look very well worn when they really aren't. Not real pretty, but can be a bargain when you find one.

I lean toward Marlins .. I used to collect Leverguns .. had 30 +
I have only 3 now all JM 336's all 30-30 .. Im on the lookout for a 94 Trapper at this time ...

a LOT of commemoratives - many of them in very large numbers, to the point where collector value is low, even if it's still LNIB with the papers and hang tags, and only about 2/3rd that value if it's not perfect and or doesn't have a box and hang tags in excellent condition.

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Ditto this and everything BB57 said!

There was a time when people were hanging on to these but in the last couple years they have been showing up for sale at gun shows, PP ads etc. Turns out very few have any collectable value at all and those that do have to be NIB perfect with all paperwork.

I own two, the '100 year' shown in my picture and a 1967 "Buffalo Bill' model and both I got for very good prices.

What drew me to them is I wanted Winchesters with octagon barrels and other than a new Miroku or older original (such as I have as well) it really about the way to have one.

Some of the Comems are a bit 'flashy' (I could live without the gold wash on my '66 Comem) but a lot of them are only simply adorned and not overstated.

Many of them have 26" barrels and if that is something you want a commemorative is again about the only way you can have this in a 'modern' rifle.

My 'Buffalo Bill' on the right.