Many years ago I had an NRA centennial Model 94 rifle, which was built to imitate the famed Winchester Model 64, with its pistol grip stock, curved lever, 3/4 length magazine, and long, tapered 24" barrel. It was a handsome rifle, but cheaply made, as the post-1964 models tended to be. I kept it for a few years, but traded it off with no regrets. It was the closest thing to a real Model 64 that I've ever had.
Still, I've always yearned for a really nice example of the original Model 64. Here's a page from Winchester's 1939 catalog, which describes this jewel:
These guns were made from 1933 to 1957, with 66,783 produced. Some later ones were made, but never to the standards of the originals.
Well, today I went to a small gun show, not really expecting anything that would ring my chimes. But at virtually the first table I went to (I'm usually among the first in the door, of course), a rack of rifles held a really excellent Model 64, chambered for .30 WCF (.30-30). The story on this one is that it came from the estate of a gentleman rancher from Prescott, AZ, and that he bought it new in 1940, but hardly ever used it. The bluing and stock finish was original and nearly flawless for a 72-year-old rifle. The serial number confirms manufacture in 1940. It has the 24-inch barrel, and the shotgun-style buttplate is steel. It even still has its original front sight hood!
Well, the upshot is that the table owner (a nice guy, by the way) and I negotiated for a while, and I wound up walking away with it.
The rifle is equipped with a Redfield peep rear sight. My understanding is that the Winchester factory drilled and tapped the holes for this sight, and often furnished the sight with the rifle as original equipment. One collector says that he's seen the majority of Model 64s with a peep sight. This gun also has the barrel-mounted rounded open rear sight.
I was thrilled to finally get what I consider to be one of the most graceful rifles ever built on the Model 1894 action. Here are some pics to show you why I immediately gravitated to this one!
John
Still, I've always yearned for a really nice example of the original Model 64. Here's a page from Winchester's 1939 catalog, which describes this jewel:
These guns were made from 1933 to 1957, with 66,783 produced. Some later ones were made, but never to the standards of the originals.
Well, today I went to a small gun show, not really expecting anything that would ring my chimes. But at virtually the first table I went to (I'm usually among the first in the door, of course), a rack of rifles held a really excellent Model 64, chambered for .30 WCF (.30-30). The story on this one is that it came from the estate of a gentleman rancher from Prescott, AZ, and that he bought it new in 1940, but hardly ever used it. The bluing and stock finish was original and nearly flawless for a 72-year-old rifle. The serial number confirms manufacture in 1940. It has the 24-inch barrel, and the shotgun-style buttplate is steel. It even still has its original front sight hood!
Well, the upshot is that the table owner (a nice guy, by the way) and I negotiated for a while, and I wound up walking away with it.
The rifle is equipped with a Redfield peep rear sight. My understanding is that the Winchester factory drilled and tapped the holes for this sight, and often furnished the sight with the rifle as original equipment. One collector says that he's seen the majority of Model 64s with a peep sight. This gun also has the barrel-mounted rounded open rear sight.
I was thrilled to finally get what I consider to be one of the most graceful rifles ever built on the Model 1894 action. Here are some pics to show you why I immediately gravitated to this one!
John
