Model 1894 Winchester stock stamping?

dwh · Sep 14, 2024

I purchased this 94 TD rifle long ago when I first got in to collecting. It’s also the gun that taught me that I know nothing about collecting firearms. It was cut down and bubbaed up petty good. It took awhile to get straightened out but I did and it shoots great.

One thing that has always intrigued me is the AEC or AEG stamp on the butt stock. As you know the Winchester records are no help. I have often thought it could be the Adams Express Company or American Express Company. The gun shipped in 1917. Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated. I know how everyone here loves a mystery.

LoboGunLeather · Sep 14, 2024

As the OP speculates, the stock marking could be a private company's means of inventory control. It could also be an owner's initials.

Rifle buttplate and rifle fore-end, so probably a full-length (24" barrel) now cut down to carbine length (along with the mag tube), although Winchester (and many other companies) would provide custom orders to individual specifications). A take-down Model 94 probably was made after the Model 55 series (everything the same except for model designation, and serial numbered within the Model 94 range), but could also have been an earlier Model 55 rebarreled with a Model 94 barrel along the way through life. I think all of them would be pre-World War II.

I've seen Model 94s with law enforcement markings (sheriff departments, police departments) and a couple with US Ordnance markings (reportedly made for WW2 defense factory guards), enough variation that I think just about anything might be possible.

There were millions of Model 94s made before that line was dropped. Many of those lived hard lives and may have been repaired or rebuilt multiple times over the past century or so. Probably hundreds of gunsmiths (professional and otherwise) kept rifles working and customers satisfied for a couple of generations.

BB57 · Sep 14, 2024

The model 55 came along after Winchester ran into financial trouble right after WWII. Winchester reduced its cataloged offerings and limited its Model 94 rifle to more or less the standard 26” with either round or octagon barrel.

With fewer cataloged options the standard Model 94 rifles were augmented in the catalog with the Model 55. The Model 55 had a 24” barrel usually with an 1/2 or 5/8 magazine. It was designed to fill the gap between the 26” Model 94 rifle and the 20” Model 94 carbine, and offered the shorter magazine as standard.

It was offered as a take down rifle only from its introduction in mid 1924 until 1931 when the last year of production from 1931-32 was available in solid frame only.

A 20” take down full magazine short rifle made in 1917 would most definitely be a Model 94. 20” was not an uncommon length for a special order short rifle.

The Model 64 replaced the Model 55 in 1933 and was made in a 24” barrel length with an 3/4 magazine initially, with a 20” barrel length added in 1934. About 80% of the 66,000 or so produced before being discontinued in 1957 were the 24” version making the 20” “carbine” version comparatively uncommon.

Model 1894 Winchester stock stamping?

dwh

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LoboGunLeather

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BB57

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