Mike,

First, it is not a "turn of the century" Model 94 Carbine. Instead, it is a 1941 vintage pre-war Carbine.

In the 1290000 – 1325000 serial number range, the leading "1" digit in most cases does look like an "L". I have documented a large number of them in my research survey. It was not a case of a half struck "1", but was simply the way that the tool & die maker cut the die.

What caliber is it?

Bert