January 26, 2011

started47 said
Anyone else obsessed with 94 lightweight rifles?
Gary,
Yes, I would say I am………….. a few in my signature photo. I have quite a few standard weight and ELW shorties. Those are great looking rifles you have there. Do I have the info on them for my 1894 Short Rifle survey? Shoot Bert and I an email if you don’t want to post them on here.
Thanks for sharing the photo………. loved it.
~Gary~
I also really enjoyed this photo – better than going to a gun show because I don’t have to buy a plane ticket! I am hoping Bert or someone will chime-in and educate me on exactly what constitutes a ELW Model 94. For some reason I thought they always had the rapid taper octagon (pencil) barrel. Burt
January 26, 2011

Burt Humphrey said
I also really enjoyed this photo – better than going to a gun show because I don’t have to buy a plane ticket! I am hoping Bert or someone will chime-in and educate me on exactly what constitutes a ELW Model 94. For some reason I thought they always had the rapid taper octagon (pencil) barrel. Burt
Burt
The 1894 ELW’s were made in the octagon and round variations and you are correct in that they have a rapid taper barrel that generally measures about 9/16″ at the muzzle, regardless of length, or shape (octagon or round). I have found that quite often, (but not always) they are sporting a three leaf express rear sight. The majority of the round ELWs have a ramp front sight, with exception to the early ones that were dovetailed (from my observations).
~Gary~
November 7, 2015

Sweet rifles! But no, I’m not obsessed with them. Or any other 1894’s. Or rimfires. Or shotguns. Just saying…..
Burt Humphrey said
I also really enjoyed this photo – better than going to a gun show because I don’t have to buy a plane ticket! I am hoping Bert or someone will chime-in and educate me on exactly what constitutes a ELW Model 94. For some reason I thought they always had the rapid taper octagon (pencil) barrel. Burt
Burt,
The first hurdle is what is recorded in the warehouse ledger records. In looking at the picture, the bottom two rifles do not appear to be ELWs, as the barrel contour appears too heavy. ELWs were not limited to rapid taper octagon (pencil) barrels only. In fact, ELWs are more common with round or 1/2 octagon barrels. Generally speaking, the ELWs also have a shotgun butt with a hard rubber butt plate (less weight than the steel crescent butt plate). As Gary mentioned, the muzzle diameter is noticeably smaller than a standard barrel, and the round barreled and the 1/2 octagon barreled ELW rifles will nearly always have a ramp front sight (exception being the very early production ELWs).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
And here’s an ELW that sold 7.5 years ago… complete with a belt hook. Have we discussed the belt hook before? I have personally never seen one or seen reference to one (that I recall).
Bert;
As always, thanks for the details. I try to makes copies and save it all because committing it to memory at my age doesn’t work! With the earlier guns for which the records are available, does the factory ledger generally note the tapered barrel or indicate a “lightweight” designation? I really like all of the 94’s in the picture, especially the full octagon, button magazine gun with double set triggers – that trips my trigger! I am pretty isolated up here in Alaska and so I don’t get out to see all the guns many of the others on this site do. Accordingly, the pictures on this site are a real treat. Thanks to all those who share them. I don’t get to many gun shows but I do get to fish a lot – the picture is my son with a steelhead trout taken late this fall. Burt
Burt Humphrey said
Bert;As always, thanks for the details. I try to makes copies and save it all because committing it to memory at my age doesn’t work! With the earlier guns for which the records are available, does the factory ledger generally note the tapered barrel or indicate a “lightweight” designation? I really like all of the 94’s in the picture, especially the full octagon, button magazine gun with double set triggers – that trips my trigger! I am pretty isolated up here in Alaska and so I don’t get out to see all the guns many of the others on this site do. Accordingly, the pictures on this site are a real treat. Thanks to all those who share them. I don’t get to many gun shows but I do get to fish a lot – the picture is my son with a steelhead trout taken late this fall. Burt
Burt,
The ledger record entry typically just has “extra light” written in it. In going through my personal notes and records earlier today, I noted that I have copies of CFM letters for more than (30) Model 1894 ELWs, and in my research survey from serial number 354000 to the end of 1927 (1012753), I have (63) more ELWs listed. It appears that Winchester manufactured a substantial number of Model 1894 ELW rifles!
Nice Steelie! Having grown up on the Oregon coast, that was once a favorite pursuit in the November – January part of the year.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 26, 2011

started47 said
Bert, GaryTop to Bottom
116571 This was in my survey, but I am missing the caliber. Did you realize this one is in the Madis book?
193013 Caliber?
28099 Caliber?
18320 Caliber?
136639 Caliber? Looks like a 9 3/8″ fore end, correct?
Gary – See requests / comments above. It appears they are all 22″ and the top three are ELW’s while the two at the bottom have standard weight barrels, as previously mentioned. Correct me if I’m mistaken on my observations. I just want to make sure I log them accurately.
Thanks again for sharing………. those are some fine short rifles.
~Gary~
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