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I recently acquired a Winchester Model 94, 30 WCF Serial # 15232261. It is a beautiful gun but somewhere along the line it appears that someone placed the receiver into a vice and squeezed it a little too hard. Then someone try to fix it by spreading the receiver. Needless to say now nothing matches up very well and the drop block no longer seats properly into the receiver.
I would like to know if there is anyway this rifle can be repaired without destroying it. And if so, is there a reliable shop that can do the repairs to put it back into safe firing condition.
It is such a beautiful gun I hate that I don’t know how to fix it properly.
Art,
Unfortunately, I very much doubt that it can be repaired. The fact that it has been bent and then stretched has undoubtedly fatigued the steel. When steel is bent, it creates hardened stress points along the bends, and when attempting to straighten it, it will either bend in a different location, or it will crack at the hard stress spot in the bend. I suspect that the receiver frame on your Model 94 has multiple bend points. Repairing it would require heating it to the point of it becoming elastic (removing the stress hardened points). The cost involved with trying to resurrect it will far exceed the value of the gun.
The serial number you mention has one too many digits in it.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks Bert, I was afraid that was going to be the answer. It is a real shame that someone would do that to such a beautiful weapon.
The serial # is actually: 1532261. Clumsy fingers. 
Art,
Yes, it is definitely a real shame that “Bubba” the wannabe gun smith tried out his bench vise on it. I suspect that “Bubba” attempted to remove the barrel without having a clue as to the proper method and tools required.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
psssst. Part it out I would be intrested in the wood front and back.
But it will probably end up on the wall…………
Patrick, I think I will do a restoration and then as you say “Hang it on the wall.”
Art,
Your going to put more into restoration than the guns worth, you would be money ahead buying another or leave it as is. The problem is you would have to use another receiver i.e. another gun, if its beyond repair.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Bob, you are correct and thanks for the response. I guess I misspoke as what I meant to say is, “This is probably a good gun for me to learn how to re-blue, and clean up the wooden furniture. I won’t actually be trying to restore it to shooting condition. I just think this is a beautiful rifle, unshootable, but still a fine example of craftsmanship, a project rifle for me it you will.”
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