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Firstly, I’d like to say I’m proud to be a new member of the most informative and well run forum for Winchester collectors anywhere. A truly awesome resource. A lot of guns run through my pawn shop and sometimes a treasure will slip in among all the plastic stuff. 1st order of business on this one is ATF clearance. It will be in the mail to them next week. I have developed a good working knowledge of collectible/classic firearms through the years but more importantly, I know what I don’t know. That’s why I’m here.
Best I can tell this is a 1927 Model 94 Special Short Carbine (S/N: 999288), original 15″ barrel in obviously rugged condition but I think it is all there. Functions as designed and the bore is very good. Previous owner bagged 2 whitetails with it last year.
My initial thoughts regarding restoration-
New/reproduction stock and fore end, install repro saddle ring (need advice here), have gunsmith check the internals out, go shoot it. Don’t know if the original wood is restorable please advise opinions as this is the ultimate goal. Sorry for the length, thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge.
Hello & welcome to the WACA!
What is your goal? Do you intend to resell it after you get the BATF clearance letter? If you do, I would not do anything to it other than a careful cleaning. Spending any $$$ to fix it up is going to be a break even proposition if you are lucky. More than likely, it will cost you more to restore it than you will be able to sell it for.
The stocks on it are Gumwood, and replacement stocks will be walnut. Further, unless you restore all of the steels parts, reproduction stocks are going to look very out of place on it due to the heavy patina on the steel.
That old Trapper Carbine earned its keep, and looks that way because it was used (albeit very hard). Altering it at this point in its life would not really be of any benefit.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Hi
As a Trapper collector, I would do nothing to that gun if the rest of the barrel markings are correct. That Trapper oozes character and history. There are no parts that are restorable, IMO. If it took two deer last year, that would be remarkable.
The history would be nice.
I like it.
Walter
Hockshop, I am not as well qualified as others on this forum to evaluate your short carbine, but here are my first couple of thoughts.. first off I would get a letter from Cody to verify that It is what it appears to be when it left the factory. and if it does check out as to barrel length etc.. then I personally would avoid anything “reproduction”. With a small amount of patience you will be able to get an original stock and for-end, as well as saddle ring and carbine butt plate off of eBay. Won’t be cheap, but worth it..The metal is certainly in better shape than the wood, and I would look for a stock set that is in a condition that blends with the overall finished project..Meaning not too fresh! Go slow and decide just how far you want to go with the project and good luck.. Brian
I’ve owned many 92 and 94 trappers over the years and agree with the previous statements. That little carbine oozes history. It may not be pretty, but it has the eye appeal only a true collector can appreciate. In my opinion, any restoration would be a big mistake.
The gun looks good just the way it is! It has a character that only time and hard use can build. As it is the gun has dignity. Once you start to mess with it it lose all it’s self respect.
THIS ALL STARTED WITH JUST ONE GUN!
etrex said
Hockshop, I am not as well qualified as others on this forum to evaluate your short carbine, but here are my first couple of thoughts.. first off I would get a letter from Cody to verify that It is what it appears to be when it left the factory. and if it does check out as to barrel length etc.. then I personally would avoid anything “reproduction”. With a small amount of patience you will be able to get an original stock and for-end, as well as saddle ring and carbine butt plate off of eBay. Won’t be cheap, but worth it..The metal is certainly in better shape than the wood, and I would look for a stock set that is in a condition that blends with the overall finished project..Meaning not too fresh! Go slow and decide just how far you want to go with the project and good luck.. Brian
Brian,
I t is not possible to get a Cody letter for Model 1894 serial number > 353999. Further, it is extremely unlikely that a stock for a Trapper will ever be found. The forend stock length is unique to the Trapper carbines.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Another vote for leaving it as is….
If you can’t convince them, confuse them
Agree 100% with everyone above that you should leave it as found all the way down to the filed off saddle ring stud. Just a little needed cleaning to mitigate any rust.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
November 7, 2015
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Did the previous owner shoot those deer or beat them to death with it? Just kidding!
It would be hard for me to resist but I think even a thorough cleaning would steal some of the character this little Trapper has earned over it’s hard life. All I’d do is stabilize any active rust.
How much history did the previous owner give you?
Mike
During my working life with the Hudson’s Bay Company and a game warden in northern Ontario I have come across many guns used by fur trappers, and in many cases. in worse shape than this one. I still have a few and wouldn’t change a thing about any of them. Every dent and mark is a story even if it can’t be told. This gun is a historical artifact and as such should be kept just as it is except for rust protection. If only it could talk and relate the fascinating times it must have been used in. Any “restoration” would be a disservice to its historical significance. Just my $0.02 Canadian pennies.
Thanks everyone for the input. Brian’s post outlines exactly what I have in mind. Bert pls advise the correct forend length for these as I have seen it listed as 7 1/8, 7 3/8 etc… I prefer not to use the gun with with the original stock which attaches rather loosely when the electrical tape is removed. Is the rearward tang bolt supposed to screw into the bottom tang? This one currently sports a nut under the bottom tang for attachment. I really just want to keep her shooting with better wood fitting and improve the cosmetics somewhat. My thought is that I can always put the original wood back on if needed for authenticity. Thanks again for the help.
No history other than the seller stating that it was his Dad’s rifle and had been used for hunting every season for as long as he could remember…
Tang screw/stock bolt should thread into bottom tang..They either have the wrong screw, or the threads in bottom tang are stripped…. Like Bert pointed out it will have a shorter fore end..I knew that but did not think of it at the time I commented..
The correct length for a 15-inch Trapper is 7-3/8″.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I think you have gotten some good advise as to originality here… but if you are set on having another set of wood for the gun I see there is an original trapper fore arm listed as 92,94 in large caliber on Ebay right now under seller unclekennyjuna. I don’t see an actual length listed, or gum wood verses walnut, and its not cheap. but you could certainly message him to find out the details…Bert is correct in the fact that these will not come up often..if original..brian
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