• Winchester 94 Serial Numbers Dates
• Winchester 94 Serial Numbers Value
• Winchester 94 Serial Numbers Age

Default Winchester serial numbers. Could any of you folks school me as to why there are no records of Model 94's produced from 1943 through 1948. Thanks in advance. IGNORANCE IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE COMMODITY THAT YOU CAN OWN.

Current Products. What year was my Winchester manufactured? How can you determine a winchester model 94 30/30 rifle 'pre-64'? I just got a old Winchester model 94.30-30. What serial number was the last of the pre-64 Winchester. What is the value of a Winchester model 94 30 30 pre 64 rifle with a serial number of. The Winchester Model 1894 rifle (also known as the Winchester 94 or Win 94) is a lever-action repeating rifle that became one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles. It was designed by John Browning in 1894 and originally chambered to fire two metallic black powder cartridges, the.32-40 Winchester and.38-55.

The Winchester Model 1894 rifle (also known as the Winchester 94 or Model 94) is a lever-actionrepeating rifle that became one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles of all time. It was designed by John Browning in 1894 and originally chambered to fire two metallic black powder cartridges, the .32-40 Winchester and .38-55 Winchester. It was the first rifle to chamber the smokeless powder round, the .30 WCF (Winchester Center Fire, in time becoming known as the .30-30) in 1895. In 1901 Winchester created the new 32WS calibre with production of rifles starting in 1902.

The 1894 was produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company through 1980 and then by U.S. Repeating Arms under the Winchester brand until they ceased manufacturing rifles in 2006. Reproductions are being made by the Miroku company of Japan and imported into the United States by the Browning Arms company of Morgan, Utah.

The Model 1894 has been referred to as the 'ultimate lever-action design' by firearms historians such as R. L. Wilson and Hal Herring. The Model 1894 is the rifle credited with the name 'Winchester' being used to refer to all rifles of this type and was the first commercial sporting rifle to sell over 7,000,000 units.^[1]

One Model 1894 is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Arms & Armor department.

• 2Design changes

Overview[edit]

The Winchester Model 1894 was the first commercial American repeating rifle built to be used with smokeless powder. The 1894 was originally chambered to fire 2 metallic black powder cartridges, the .32-40 Winchester and .38-55 Winchester. In 1895 Winchester went to a different steel composition for rifle manufacturing that could handle higher pressure rounds and offered the rifle in .25-35 Winchester and .30-30 Winchester. The .30-30 Winchester, or .30WCF (Winchester Centerfire), is the cartridge that has become synonymous with the Model 1894.^[2] Starting in 1899, the Model 1894 was also chambered in .32 Winchester Special.

The Model 94's combination of potent firepower in a compact, lightweight, comfortable-to-carry, and quick-shooting package has made it an extremely popular hunting rifle, particularly for white-tailed deer in the dense forests of the Eastern United States, where most game is killed at relatively short distances. As a result, it was the first sporting rifle to sell over 7,000,000 units. The millionth Model 1894 was given to President Calvin Coolidge in 1927, the 1½ millionth rifle to President Harry S. Truman on May 8, 1948 and the two millionth unit was given to President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953.^[3]

The United States government purchased 1,800 commercial Model 1894s with 50,000 .30-30 cartridges during World War I. These rifles in the 835800 to 852500 serial number range were marked atop the receiver ring with a flaming bomb and 'U.S.' The rifles were intended for United States Army Signal Corps personnel stationed in the Pacific Northwest to prevent labor strike actions from interrupting manufacture of Sitka spruce lumber for framing the fuselage and wings of military aircraft.^[4] The rifles were sold as military surplus after the war.^[5] To release Lee–Enfield rifles for infantry use, the Royal Navy purchased approximately 5,000 .30-30 caliber Model 94 rifles in 1914 for shipboard guard duty and mine-clearing. France purchased 15,100 Model 1894 carbines equipped with sling swivels on the left side of the buttstock and barrel band, and with metric gradations on the No. 44A rear sight. These French carbines were issued to motorcycle couriers, artillery troops, trench railway personnel, and some balloon units. Some of these rifles acquired Belgian proofmarks when sold as surplus through Belgium.^[6]

The Winchester 1894 was used again in World War 2 in the hands of the Canadian Pacific Coast Rangers who were issued them to defend the west coast of Canada from Japanese invaders. The Model 94 over its long history included the Winchester Model 55, produced from 1924 through 1932 in a 24-inch (610 mm) barrel, and the Winchester Model 64, produced from 1933 through 1957 in 20, 24, and 26-inch (660 mm) barrel lengths.^[7] From 1964 through 1980, a version of the Model 94 carbine was also sold by Sears as the Ted Williams Model 100, as part of Sears' marketing arrangement with both Winchester and the retired baseball star.

In mid-1964, the manufacturing of the 94 was changed in order to make the firearm less expensive to produce. Generally referred to as 'pre-64' models, the earlier versions command a premium price over post-change rifles.^[8] The limited number of early-1964 production models produced prior to the changeover are considered quite desirable, as they are considered by many to represent the ending of an era.^[1]

The Winchester 1894's design allowed the cycling of longer cartridges than the Winchester 1892 carbines could permit. When the lever is pulled down, it brings the bottom of the receiver with it, opening up more space and allowing a longer cartridge to feed without making the receiver longer. The mechanism is complex but very reliable. Complete stripping of the action is a multistage task that must be accomplished in precise sequence. However, it is rarely necessary to completely strip the action. The largest cartridge that the 1894 action can accommodate is the .450 Marlin, which was chambered in some custom rifles and the short-lived Timber Carbine on a beefed-up 1894 'big bore' receiver.^[9]

Decades after the Winchester 1892 was phased out, the Winchester 1894 Models were manufactured in typical revolver calibers such as .38 Special/.357 Magnum, .44 Special/.44 Magnum, .45 Colt (or .45 Long Colt), .38-40 Winchester, and .44-40 Winchester. Typically, the tube magazine is able to hold 9 to 13 rounds of these handgun calibers. The magazine capacity depends on the length of the barrel, as the under barrel tube magazine typically covers the entire length of the barrel.^[10]

Handgun calibers are preferred by modern-day Cowboy Action Shooters as it allows one type of ammunition for both rifle and handgun. A typical combination would be an 1873 Colt (Colt Peacemaker or clone) and a Winchester 1894 capable of shooting the same type of ammunition. The 1894 action, designed for smokeless rifle rounds, is much stronger than the action of the Winchesters (Models 1866, 1873, 1876) that were based on Benjamin Henry's toggle-link system, and can easily handle modern high-pressure revolver cartridges such as the .44 Magnum.

From 1984 to 1997, the Model 94 angle eject 20' barreled carbine and 24' barreled XTR rifle were offered in 7-30 Waters (an improved .30-30 case necked down to a 7mm bullet).^[11] In 2003, the rifle was offered in .410 shotgun and named the Model 9410.^[12]

As of 1983, the Winchester 1894 holds the record for best-selling high-powered rifle in U.S. history.^[13]

U.S. production ceased in 2006. At the time there were 14 versions of the Model 94 in the Winchester catalog. In 2010 Winchester Repeating Arms reintroduced the model 94 in two Limited Edition models to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Oliver F. Winchester's birth in New England in 1810.^[14]

Design changes[edit]

Three major changes have been made in the design and construction of the Winchester 1894 since World War II, all tied to major shifts in Winchester's corporate leadership and direction. The first and largest came in 1964, after the 1963 resignation of gun enthusiast John M. Olin from the presidency of the company he founded, Olin Corporation. The second came in 1982, after Olin's 1981 sale of the Winchester factory to its employees, who formed the U.S. Repeating Arms Company (USRAC). The third in 1992, after the 1989 bankruptcy of USRAC and its subsequent purchase by FN Herstal, which sought to market Winchester guns worldwide.

1964[edit]

Upon Olin's retirement, Olin Corporation's new chief executives sought to maximize company profitability, giving corporate preference to its flourishing chemical business over gun production, which was unprofitable and labor-intensive. As a result, Winchester ceased machining both the receiver and many small parts of the Model 94 out of solid steel billet as of 1964. Sintered steel was used on the receiver, stamped sheet metal for the cartridge lifter, and hollow rather than solid steel roll pins used in the action. While the rifle's function, safety, and accuracy were not adversely affected,^{[citation needed]} the changes—in particular the sintered receiver, which was as strong as its solid-steel predecessor but which did not respond well to a traditional blued finish—were conspicuous and came as Winchester made even more fundamental changes to its flagship Model 70bolt-action rifle. Taken together, they were seen as a retreat from quality production across the company's whole range, seriously damaging Winchester's reputation for making quality firearms in the process. In response, many sought out rifles made before 1964, (pre '64),^[8] which command a markedly higher resale value on the gun market to this day.

1982[edit]

One of the drawbacks of the original Model 1894 action in relation to competitors like the Marlin Model 336 was that the Winchester ejects cartridges from the top of the receiver and over the user's shoulder, rather than to the side. A top-ejecting firearm cannot mount a telescopic scope on top of the receiver—the most convenient location for the shooter—without interfering with cartridge ejection. A scope for such a firearm must instead be mounted either far forward on the barrel (where it must be specifically designed for the purpose), or offset to the side of the gun (which creates problems due to parallax). Both options seriously degrade the usefulness of a scope for such a rifle.

This was not a major concern when the gun was originally designed; the most common upgrade to guns of the pre–World War II era was the installation of a peep sight to the rear of the receiver, which maximized the accuracy potential of the factory-installed iron sights. Winchester had long had mounting holes pre-drilled in the receiver of the gun to accommodate such a modification, and it was by far the most common upgrade installed on the Model 94 for most of its history. Nevertheless, consumer tastes changed in the years after World War II as high quality scopes became both widely available and affordable.^[15] Commercial acceptance of the new scopes was likewise rapid, and by the 1970s the ability to use receiver-mounted scopes on hunting rifles had become expected by most gun buyers. With the competition able to mount scopes on its receivers without difficulty, this shortcoming was blamed for falling sales. In response, Winchester changed the design of the action in 1982 to angled cartridge ejection, which ejects fired cartridges at an angle that allows the rifle to function while fitted with a conventional receiver-mounted scope.^[15]

1992[edit]

Despite these changes, U.S. Repeating Arms did not flourish, declaring bankruptcy in 1989. It was subsequently purchased by Belgian arms maker FN Herstal, which set about improving the whole Winchester line, instituting modern CNC methods of production at Winchester's factory while also seeking to expand the sales and marketing of Winchester rifles worldwide. This effort would culminate in two major changes to the gun in 1992: the reintroducing of now-CNC-machined parts and solid pins back into the action, and the elimination of the traditional half-cock safety notch on the hammer in favor of a cross-bolt safety, which enabled the gun to be sold internationally.

Though the increase in build quality was noted at the time, it was the conspicuous presence of the new safety that generated the strongest opinions. It was widely reviled by American consumers and gun writers alike as a 'lawyer' safety, who said it detracted from the overall look, feel, and operation of the rifle. FNH and Winchester responded in 2003 by moving the safety to the tang behind the receiver, which largely quelled the controversy. Both the last Model 94s to leave the New Haven factory before American production ceased in 2006 and the new Model 94s produced in Japan since 2010 by Miroku Corp. feature these tang-mounted safeties.^[16]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abWilson, R. L. (2008). Winchester: An American Legend. New York: Book Sales, Inc. pp. 96–103. ISBN978-0-7858-1893-9.
2. ^Herring, Hal (2008). Famous Firearms of the Old West: From Wild Bill Hickok's Colt Revolvers to Geronimo's Winchester, Twelve Guns That Shaped Our History. Montana: TwoDot. p. 122. ISBN978-0-7627-4508-1.
3. ^Henshaw, Thomas (1993). The History of Winchester Firearms 1866-1992. New York: Winchester Press. p. 42. ISBN978-0-8329-0503-2.
4. ^Canfield, Bruce N. (2008). 'Drafted: The U.S. Military Contract Winchester Model 1894 .30-30 Carbine'. American Rifleman. National Rifle Association. 156 (2): 62.
5. ^Canfield, Bruce N. 19th Century Military Winchesters March 2001 American Rifleman p. 77
6. ^Mercaldo, Luke & Vanderlinden, Anthony Winchester Lever-Actions go to War June 2015 American Rifleman pp. 53–54
7. ^The model number 55 was used twice by Winchester, first as a Model 94 variant introduced in 1924, and, later, as a short-lived single-shot/auto-eject hybrid .22-caliber rifle that self-cocked the bolt each time it was fired). Henshaw (1993) p. 84
8. ^ ^abGun Trader's Guide (22 ed.). Stoeger Publishing Company. 1999. p. 5. ISBN978-0-88317-212-4.
9. ^Zidock Jr., Alex (1994). 'Winchester Model 94'. Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. 171 (5): 50–52. ISSN0032-4558.
10. ^Venturino, Mike (1998). 'Slingin' Lead'. Popular Mechanics. Jay McGill. 175 (4): 76–79.
11. ^Frank C. Barnes, ed. Stan Skinner. Cartridges of the World, 10th Ed. Krause Publications. ISBN0-87349-605-1.
12. ^Renneberg, Robert C. (2009). Winchester Model 94: A Century of Craftmanship (2 ed.). Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 237. ISBN978-1-4402-0391-6.
13. ^Wallack, LR. 'Sixty Million Guns'. 1983. In Gun Digest Treasury, Harold A. Murtz, editor, DBI Books. 1994 p. 190 ISBN0873491564
14. ^Shideler, Dan (2010). Gun Digest 2011 (65 ed.). Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 107. ISBN978-1-4402-1337-3.
15. ^ ^abSchoby, Michael (2007). Hunter's Guide to Whitetail Rifles. Mechanicsburg, Penn.: Stackpole Books. p. 161. ISBN978-0-8117-3359-5. OCLC70167703.
16. ^Murtz, Harold A. (2005). The Gun Digest Book of Exploded Gun Drawings: 975 Isometric Views. Iola, Wis.: Gun Digest Books. pp. 978–979. ISBN978-0-89689-141-8. OCLC849907703. Retrieved 17 June 2014.

External links[edit]

• Winchester Model 1894 Classic Gun Review by Chuck Hawks
• Winchester Pre '64 Model 94 Classic Gun Review by Chuck Hawks
• Winchester 1894 Legacy review by Jeff Quinn
• Small Arms of WWI Primer 055: French Contract Winchester 1894 on YouTube

Is a sears model 54 3030 cal lever action rifle made by Winchester. did these rifles have a serial number out of the Winchester M94 set of numbers this rifle has a 33000 serial number.?

Yes, the Sears Model 54 was made by Winchester and used the Winchester Model 54 serial numbers. Your serial number puts the rifle at being made in 1930 or 1931.

What is the year of a model 94 Winchester 3030 serial 3178751?

My grandpa give me this 3030 Winchester model 94 i need to know what year it was made

How old is my 3030 Winchester serial number 3311259?

IF the gun is a model of 1894, (94) it was made in 1970. Winchester serial numbers are only unique to the particular model. A model 12 can have the same serial number as a 94 and a 73 etc etc.

What year is a Winchester 94 3030 serial number 3704294?

Your winchester model 1894 was made by winchester in 1972.

How old is the 1894 Winchester 3030 serial 198361?

Winchester 94 Serial Numbers Dates

Your winchester model 1894 rifle was made by winchester in 1900.

What year was this Winchester 3030 serial 5232943 made?

your Winchester model 1894 was made by Winchester in 1983-1984.

What year was serial number 3020676 model 94 3030 manufactured?

your winchester model 1894 was produced by winchester in 1967.

Were ar the serial number located on a model 94 Winchester rifle?

were is the serial number at on a Winchester modal 94 3030 rifle

What year is your Winchester 3030 serial 3425237?

With the serial number that you supplied,your Winchester model 1894 rifle was made in the year 1971.

What year was the winchester model 94 3030 caliber with the serial number 120272 made?

Your winchester model 1894 rifle was made by winchester in 1898.

What year is your Winchester 3030 serial 1350337?

Winchester Model 94 Carbine serial number 1350337 was manufactured in 1945. Bert H.

When was a Winchester 94 3030 serial 1264225 made?

With the serial number that you have supplied,your Winchester model 1894 rifle was made in the year 1941.

Age of a Winchester 3030 by serial number?

Yes, the age of a Model 94 can be determined by the serial number. Bert H.

How old model 94 3030 serial number 414528?

Your serial number indicates that your Winchester model 1894 rifle was made in the year 1907.

What model is a Winchester ranger 3030 rifle serial number 5552144?

Generally it is a model 94 although Winchester used the Ranger name for other firearms as well.

When was Winchester Model 94 3030 serial number 1311905 made?

Winchester Model 94 seriasl number 1311905 was manufactured late in the year 1941. Bert H.

What is the age of Winchester mod 94 3030 saddle ring serial number 735835?

your Winchester model 1894 saddle ring carbine was made by Winchester in 1914.

When was a Winchester 3030 Model 64 serial no 1169333 produced?

Model 64 serial number 1169333 was manufactured in March of 1938. All Model 64 Rifles & Carbines were serial numbered withing the Model 94 sequence.

What year was the serial number 1207198 made ina model 94 3030 rifle?

With the serial number that you provided,your Winchester model 1894 rifle was made in the year 1940.

What year is win 94 3030 serial number 4375461?

With the serial number that you have supplied,your Winchester model 1894 rifle was made in the year 1976.

What is a model 55 Winchester 3030 worth?

What condition is it in, and what is the serial number? Is it a Take Down or a Solid Frame? Bert H.

Winchester 94 Serial Numbers Value

What year was Winchester model 94 3030 serial 18083XX made?

To find the year that any Winchester gun was made, you just need to know which model it is and what the serial number is (the model number and serial number are stamped on the gun itself). Then go to this website and it will tell you when it was made: http://oldguns.net/sn_php/winmods.htm

What year is the Winchester model 94 3030 serial number 1812661 made?

That rifle was manufactured in 1951. Winchester manufacture years can by found at: http://www.armscollectors.com/sn/windates.htm

What is value and production date of Winchester model 94 3030 serial?

100-1000 USD and up depending on specifics. proofhouse has sn's

What year was a Winchester 3030 with the serial number ending 9272 made?

In order to answer your question,a serial number will need to be supplied.With what you have provided,there is no way of dating your Winchester model 1894 rifle.You must remember that there were over 6,500,000 model 1894 rifles made from 1894-2006.

What is the year of manufacture of Winchester model 94 rifle with serial number 2359141?

The Winchester rifle with the model of 94-3030 was produced from 1894-1980. You can find out the year for your specific model by visiting a gun dealer and taking the gun with you. They can date it in store.

How much is a Winchester model 94 3030 rifle worth serial number 5087510?

Your winchester model 1894 rifle which was made in 1982 is valued at between 250-350 dollars depending on the overall condition,and a good bore.

What is the age and value of a model 94 3030 rifle serial 347971?

Winchester Model 1894 serial number 347971 was manufactured in the year 1906. The value can only be determined by a visual inspection & evaluation. Bert H.

What is the value of a Winchester 3030 serial 3479272?

Your Winchester model 1894 rifle,which was made in the year 1971 will bring between 200-350 dollars,depending on overall condition and a good bore.

5493513 3030 Winchester worth?

The serial number is outside the range of Winchester rifles. (Too high)

What is the value of a Winchester Model 94 3030 serial number 4345741?

Made in 1976. Description is lacking to say the least. Broad range 300-800

How old is your 3030 Winchester rifle serial number 3945764?

Start with the Winchester web site. If you have to, contact them by telephone.

How much is a Model 94 Winchester 3030 Serial 3307127 worth?

About $295.00 for a rifle in good condition. It will go up and down in price depending on the condition of the rifle.

Winchester 94 Serial Numbers Age

What is a Winchester 3030 serial number 1732134 worth?

Your Model 94 was manufactured in 1951 and has strong collector interest. A professional appraisal should be obtained to determine the value.