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I have a pre ’64 Model 94 that I have a couple of issues with. My concerns are:
1. With the bolt forward and the Finger Lever in what I would call the “closed position” the Link (that engages the bottom plate) does not close all the way. At times this has caused a problem with closing the bolt all the way forward on a chambered round. However, this issues happens with or without a round in the chamber.
2. In this condition, the trigger safety is disengaged making the weapon a risk of firing.
I’ll try and post a couple of pictures but in order to get the bolt all the way forward and the Link to close all the way and the Finger Lever to be off the trigger safety, I have to remove the Finger Lever Screw. The system has no play at the Finger Lever to the Bolt and the only play at the Finger Lever Screw is that withing the slotted hole it travels thru.
My observation and question is this: Can the Finger Lever be bent enough to cause this issue? If I’m correct, can the Finger Lever be bent back a bit without causing damage?
Thanks for any help.
Steve.
(OK, sorry. I don’t know the magic way to add photos). 
Sounds like your lever is bent somehow. Most ones Ive seen are bent in the section of the trigger guard. I cant make any more of what your describing. If youve got two 94’s, compare both levers, or if possible, swap them out to see if that corrects the issue and identifies the problem. Its hard to tell whats going on without some pics. Is there an issue with the bolt/lever linkage pin? Or the spring pin at the back of the floor plate that engages the receiver when the bolt and ever are closed. Hard to say.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
Thanks 1892takedown, Sorry but I don’t have another ’94 to compare with. However, I think I have figured how to present a couple of pictures. Below are two links that will show my issue. The first picture shows the Finger Lever closed against the lower Tang WITH the Finger Lever Screw in place. You can see that the Link (which pushes the Locking Bolt up against the Breech Bolt) does not engage in the closed position. In the second picture with the Finger Lever Screw removed, the Link easily closes with slight finger pressure and the Breech Bolt locks into position.
One thing that has caught my attention is the location of where the pin of the Safety touches the Finger Lever. I wonder if other weapons Finger Levers touch in the same location?
Again, thanks for the help.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I8OjUY14ePJthHFe0L6mAT5vTD4ysMT7/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mnhkCYHfZ0_hvrTG3BIQzWVRsbcUEqsd/view?usp=sharing
The problem may not be the lever. I could be totally wrong here, but the receiver looks like its been buffed and refinished and my guess is the base of the receiver had enough metal removed to where the floor plate does not line up even with the base of the receiver, unless you remove the lever link pin. I dont think that can be fixed. Hard to say what exactly is going on with just the two photos.
Below are a couple of photos that show the contours and lines at the base of the receiver–unless the photo you posted is to dark of a tint, Im not seeing that on your rifle, leading me to believe those areas have been heavily buffed when refinished. Also note the slight bevel or taper at the end of the floorplate on your rifle, it should be pretty much flat.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
Hi Steve. I think you will find nothing wrong with the lever. The problem looks to be that the tangs are bent . If you look where the stock fits at the back of the action, you will see an uneven gap. Take the stock off, bend the top tang down slightly until the stock butts up evenly, then you may have to bend the bottom tang to fit but only if it needs bending. The bottom tang may have enough slack to line up. It looks to me as if the stock has been bent up at the rear. Just take it easy, a bit at a time. Give it a go. Eric
Be careful if bending. It may crack. Check out the depth of the tang channel in the wood. If too shallow you may need to deepen it. When reassembling the stock use a clamp to pull everything tight then install the screws.
Thank you Eric and Chuck.
I too have questioned the angle of the tangs as well. Every time I work on the weapon the Butt stock is the first thing that is removed. With the Butt stock seated against the receiver correctly I have compared the alignment of the lower and upper tangs. It does look like the Receiver tang (upper tang) needs to be drawn down towards the Butt stock but, this would not be causing the problem with the Finger Lever location.
Believe it or not, I’m not one to throw the Finger Lever or Lower Tang in to the press just to see what happens. Not having the OEM design drawings and dimensions showing the build angles I have decided to order another used OEM Finger Lever. It should be here by Wednesday and I can at least compare the angles on both of them. IF, both Finger Levers are the same then I will look into dealing with the lower tang.
Again, thanks for the feedback.
Steve.
I was not going to mention this but I think the wood has been sanded a lot or the wood is not original to the gun. As Chris pointed out things don’t align correctly.
OK, I know everyone has been waiting with baited breath 
to see what I found out about my Pre-64. I ordered a Finger Lever with Link and two Trigger stops one pre-’64 and one post-’64. (I wanted to look at the difference). I laid the “new/used” Finger Lever on top of my OEM Finger Lever and found that they were the same with no indication of a bend. (So, my first worry was laid to rest). I’ve added pictures or links to pictures.
But, I did notice that someone had filed down the part to the “new/used” Finger Lever that touches the Lower Tang and Trigger Stop. So, I installed the “new/used” Finger Lever and Link and discovered that the locking of the Breech Bolt was good but, the Trigger safety was still an issue. I could still fire the weapon with the Breech Bolt secure and my hand off of the Finger Lever. Not a safe condition to say the least.
I tried the other Pre-’64 Trigger Stop with the same results. (The Post-’64 Trigger Stop wouldn’t fit without a lot of filling). I bit the bullet, sorry for the pun, and very carefully filed down the post of the Trigger Stop that touches the Finger Lever. After several tests and take aparts, I finally got a safe weapon. With the Breech Bolt locked in place the Trigger cannot be pulled without putting pressure in the Finger Lever. So, for me, the weapon is back in service.
Again, thanks to everyone for their input. It was very helpful.
Steve.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11GxMab07vZO4g3QpERszaUYgR8NKJk19/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N9vsXGTU-_XnfElyXUnqzKHqnPZr_Y8n/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JR2RN-AwglBatKODhCnATEmMi76D6-37/view?usp=sharing
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