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January 23, 2022
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Hello, I’ve recently been bit by the Winchester 94 bug and have started a small collection. My most recent appears to be an 09 in 32ws. Curious if anyone has ever seen stars stamped into the receiver. Also the top of the barrel, just in front of the rear sight, is worn down. (Hard to see in photos) Probably no way to know much about these things but I figured this would be the place to ask. Thanks for any information you can give. 
April 15, 2005
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Hello Jay,
What you have is a Model 1894 Take Down Sporting Rifle that was manufactured in January, 1909.
Unfortunately, at least one of its past owners was not kind to it. Specifically, the receiver frame has been buffed and refinished (reblued), and the stamped stars are not something that Winchester did. I highly suspect that the barrel has been shortened (cut down), as the front sight dovetail does not appear to be correctly located. If you can post clear pictures showing the muzzle face, and another with a tape measure along the side of the barrel from the muzzle to the front sight, that question can be answered.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 23, 2022
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Thanks for taking time to respond. Hopefully these pictures will help.
April 15, 2005
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They do help, but unfortunately they also confirm my suspicion that the barrel was shortened from its original 26-inch length. The front sight dovetail as milled by Winchester was precisely 15/16″ from the muzzle face to the dead center of the sight. I suspect that the magazine tube was also shortened, but cannot be certain.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 20, 2009
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Bert Wrote:
I suspect that the magazine tube was also shortened, but cannot be certain.
Jay,
If you will open the lever and unscrew the magazine there may be a very typical spiral wear pattern (as in the attached photo just to the left of the ring) in the bluing on the magazine from where it would have rubbed against what would have been the magazine retaining ring if it were an original full length magazine.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
November 19, 2006
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Jay,
If you will open the lever and unscrew the magazine there may be a very typical spiral wear pattern (as in the attached photo just to the left of the ring) in the bluing on the magazine from where it would have rubbed against what would have been the magazine retaining ring if it were an original full length magazine.
Michael
Michael – I’ll bet this is a .32 Special 
A nice one too 
