With respect to the Winchester Model 1894, later simplified to Model 94, let us make certain assumptions: 

1. You are not interested in acquiring a high condition specimen made before World War Two, which may or may not have a "shootable" (capable of hunting accuracy) bore, for the primary purpose of displaying and studying it as a collectible, historically interesting object. 

2. You are interested in the American lever action rifle as a type, specifically the Model 94, and intend to study it and its history, but you wish to acquire a sound specimen in good condition, capable of at least hunting accuracy, and intend to use it for sport, at the range and in the field. 

I suggest there are several classes or phases of the Model 94 that might interest you, although I do not know if all are available to you. (The date ranges are approximations - this is not intended to be a history.)

A. THE PRE-64 VARIANT. Winchester Model 64 rifles or Model 94 carbines made in New Haven, Connecticut after World War Two and before 1964. (The Model 64 rifle was not produced after 1957, except for a cheapened, unsuccessful version produced briefly in 1972-73 that you should avoid.)  This is the least controversial version of the Model 94 and they are readily available on the used market in America. They are well made and sufficiently accurate for sporting use in good condition. 

B. THE POST 63 VARIANT. Winchester Model 94 carbines made in New Haven between late 1963 and around 1975 are the least favored because their quality of materials and construction were cheapened, the worst examples being those made in the mid-Sixties, gradually improving over 10 years, after which the guns regained their quality. The later guns are not regarded as "collectible" by mainstream WACA collectors but they are fine weapons. The various commemorative issues made during this period suffered and then increased in quality along with the standard catalogued versions. In shorthand, 1964 = poor; 1975 = good. 

C. THE POST 1980 VARIANT.  At the end of 1980, Olin Industries, which owned and operated the gunmaking business that made Winchester arms since acquiring the machinery and patents from the defunct Winchester Repeating Arms Company out of receivership during the Great Depression, sold the gunmaking assets to an incorporated group of employees and investors, United States Repeating Arms Corporation, and licensed the Winchester brand and marks. Olin retained ownership of those intangible assets because it continued the Winchester Ammunition business.

Winchester 94s made after 1980 continued to be made in New Haven and are excellent, well-finished weapons. 

USRAC went through several refinancings and reorganizations, ultimately being acquired by Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre of Belgium, now known as FN-Herstal.  In 2006 FN closed the New Haven plant and ceased production of the Winchester Model 94 until 2010. 

D. THE MIROKU VARIANT.  In 2010, FN-Herstal restarted production of the Model 94 in Japan by Miroku Corporation, which had been building rifles and shotguns for Browning Arms Company since the early Nineteen Seventies and, before that, the American Charles Daly line of shotguns during the late Fifties and Sixties. This variant of the Winchester Model 94 is by far the most controversial of the lot, with some collectors refusing to acknowledge the guns are "real" Winchesters. To add fuel to the fire, American import restrictions and the demands of American product liability insurers require a positive safety device - implemented in the form of a fairly inconspicuous tang safety - and a rebounding hammer. These "outrages" cause some collectors -- most of whom have never shot one -- to foam at the mouth. 

However, having owned, shot and hunted with at least one Winchester Model 94 or 64 from each of all these categories, it is my studied conviction the Model 94 made by Miroku is by far the best Model 94 ever made. It isn't even close. 

CONCLUSIONS.  I wouldn't myself buy a Model 94 made between 1964 and 1975, including commemoratives.  Otherwise, for your purposes, any of the rest in good condition are fine.  For hunting accuracy, the later the better.

Assuming you have access and yIf you are not stuck on the Model 94, I'd take a hard look at one of the new Model 1886 45/70 rifles or, if you are free to shoot pistol cartridges, a new 1873. The 1873 Winchesters have neither a rebounding hammer nor a tang safety. 

GGeorgsson said
Hello all,
I am new to this forum, so let me give you a brief intro.
I am 64 yrs old, living in Sweden.  I have always been a fan of lever-action rifles, and got really hooked when shooting a M94, chambered in 30WCF, when I was in AZ in the 90´s
The gun laws here in Sweden are quite different than in the US.  For instance, as a hunter, you were only allowed to have 4 guns without having to motivate the purpose.  It was possible to extend it to 6 guns, if you could give the police a good motivation why you need so many.
And you need to store them in a security graded gun cabinet.  So no nice collector guns hanging on the wall.
This of course meant that I had to choose wisely what guns to have, depending on what game I was hunting.
But from June 1st. we are allowed to have 10 guns, without having to motivate why we want them.  So this has now opened up the possibility for me to add a Winchester 94 to my cabinet.
And now to my question.
I have found several Commemorative Winchesters.  They are all new and have never been fired.  Those I have found are:
Brave Land and Bold Men, 30-30 from 1970
Apache, 30-30 from 1974
Klondike, 30-30 from 1975
Little Big Horn, 44-40 from 1976
Sioux, 30-30 from 1976
Cheyenne, 44-40 from 1977
Bat Masterson, 30-30 from 1979
Even though they are in 3 different stores, spread around Sweden, I assume they all come from the same collection.
So how is the quality of the guns above?  Several articles (and experts) state that they are of a less quality than an ordinary M94 from the same era, since they were supposed to hang on a wall in a timber lodge somewhere in Wyoming, Vermont or Maine.
Is this true, or are they really a stock gun from the beginning, that just got better wood and some nickel or gold plating.
I would like to buy one of the ones chambered in 30WCF and use it for hunting.  But if it is just a bling-bling gun to have on the wall, I have no use for it.
So what do you think??
Regards
Georg
  

Hi Georg,

Welcome my friend! We are glad to have you! I’m an avid Winchester Commemorative collector so freely admit my bias here! My heart goes out to you guys, as like you we love the Winchester 94’s and can’t imagine being limited to 10 much less 6. Although admittedly, my bank acct would look much healthier! Now, as to your questions…

1. To shoot a Commemorative or not? It is a myth that Commemorative collectors (at least all the ones I know) care if it has been fired. We don’t! We care the same as every collector does if the gun has been abused. No more no less. The same is true of the box it comes in. If you have the original box your 1930 1894 came in, it is worth more than if you don’t. The better condition the better a collector values any Winchester! Exact same for the Commemorative market. 
2. Is the quality just as good. Yes, it was made in the exact same plant, by the exact same people and to the exact same standards as regular 94’s of the same year. Fun fact for everyone is the regular Michelob Commemorative made by Winchester is in fact the non Commemorative Winchester Classic from 67 with the only difference being the addition of the medallion in the butt stock. However, Anthony’s statement on the quality of Pre 1964’s being superior is a “take it to the bank”  fact. If Bert our historian weighs in he can advise when the quality improved but I’m thinking mid 70’s so everything on your list except the first one is likely ok as they are 1975 or later models. Hopefully, Bert weighs in as he, Zeb and a few others on here can speak with authority on the post 64 quality issues that I do not possess. 

Having said all of that if you want a shooter then a Pre 64 94 is the way to go. If you want a fancy shooter then pick the Commemorative that best speaks to you! I know lots of guys who hunt with Commemoratives and love them.  Personal choice for you but Commemoratives from 64 and on get sold every day as shooters!

Best of luck my friend!

Buck

Tony

The difference is in the aesthetic and the packaging.

I own a very low serial number 94 Centennial ‘66 commemorative rifle in 30 WCF, the heavy octagonal barrel makes it very accurate, although it has been many years since I last used it.

My reply to the shooting questions would be,  do not shoot it if the piece is unfired, it will lose collectability value. BUT if the piece has already been used, absolutely yes, they are post/64 Winchester 94s, in the good and in the bad … in my opinion mostly good.

As far as shooting, buy whatever caliber has the best ammunition availability in your area. sounds like you want a gun to shoot.  On the YouTube, I’ve seen reviews of commemorative Winchesters that shot great and some that had terrible bores from the factory.  I’m sure Zeb will be along to inform you on the merits of the miroukoo rifles. 

I don’t know what the market is like in Sweden but you may look for a pre-64 94 30-30 shooter grade.  

-Adam

Most Collectors here on the WACA Forum like the Pre-1964 Winchester rifles and many with history. Theirs many different levels and kinds of Winchester Collectors.

One pretty well known fact is the Quality of the Pre-64 Winchester Manufacturing, had changed after 1964, prompting many of us to pursue the earlier examples. It could be an assumption of these facts, that may be confusing with the commemorative rifles, that Winchester started production in 1964 with the 1964 Wyoming Diamond Jubilee 94 carbine. So a lesser quality rifle could be possibly based on these facts! IMHO!

That being said, as times change and things in life change, you will find some that collect and like the Winchester commemoratives. As far as the "experts ", and "the several articles", that you refer to, and what their saying, maybe you can enlighten us on these articles, and post some links here. We have to be careful with some of the information, as it can be either wrong or an opinion, and not a fact from a bona fide gunsmith who works on Winchesters and has done the comparison at the bench and at the range! IMHO!

Many collectors of the Winchester commemorative rifles like the NIB, UN-fired condition, and barter/trade and sell these often, on Guns International, Gun Broker, and in Auctions. You're assumption that the ones that you found nearby at different locations, could be from one person or not. No matter as things are a little different over in Switzerland where you're at, than here in the USA!

It's very possible to buy a Winchester Pre-64/post war rifle, to hunt with, in the .30 WCF/30-30 Caliber, and it doesn't have to be a commemorative rifle. Being where you're at, I'm suspecting those might be hard to come by, explaining more of you're situation or dilemma.

Many of the knowledgeable collectors are currently heading to the WACA Cody, Wyoming show that is held annually and might no respond right away to this. One in particular I'm sure can add to this, Henry Mero, who is very knowledgeable on the commemorative rifles. Be patient and some more responses might come in.

Tony

I am new to this forum, so let me give you a brief intro.

I am 64 yrs old, living in Sweden.  I have always been a fan of lever-action rifles, and got really hooked when shooting a M94, chambered in 30WCF, when I was in AZ in the 90´s

The gun laws here in Sweden are quite different than in the US.  For instance, as a hunter, you were only allowed to have 4 guns without having to motivate the purpose.  It was possible to extend it to 6 guns, if you could give the police a good motivation why you need so many.

And you need to store them in a security graded gun cabinet.  So no nice collector guns hanging on the wall.

This of course meant that I had to choose wisely what guns to have, depending on what game I was hunting.

But from June 1st. we are allowed to have 10 guns, without having to motivate why we want them.  So this has now opened up the possibility for me to add a Winchester 94 to my cabinet.

And now to my question.

I have found several Commemorative Winchesters.  They are all new and have never been fired.  Those I have found are:

Brave Land and Bold Men, 30-30 from 1970
Apache, 30-30 from 1974
Klondike, 30-30 from 1975
Little Big Horn, 44-40 from 1976
Sioux, 30-30 from 1976
Cheyenne, 44-40 from 1977
Bat Masterson, 30-30 from 1979

Even though they are in 3 different stores, spread around Sweden, I assume they all come from the same collection.

So how is the quality of the guns above?  Several articles (and experts) state that they are of a less quality than an ordinary M94 from the same era, since they were supposed to hang on a wall in a timber lodge somewhere in Wyoming, Vermont or Maine.

Is this true, or are they really a stock gun from the beginning, that just got better wood and some nickel or gold plating.

I would like to buy one of the ones chambered in 30WCF and use it for hunting.  But if it is just a bling-bling gun to have on the wall, I have no use for it.

So what do you think??

Regards

Georg

A refreshing change from several boxes sent to me in the past by strangers, which, when opened, gave off the "powerful odor of mendacity." 

antler1 said

Jeremy P said
Yes, to be clearer, $3500 for a really nice non-deluxe (special) model!
Pat, you'll sell me a deluxe for 3500 this weekend, won't you?
  

I was offering to buy not sell!! I do have a very nice model 65 25-20 w/bolt peep that will be on the table. Stop by.
  

I will indeed stop by! I think mine in .25-20 is a refinish, although a nice one. See you there!

Jeremy P said

antler1 said

Jeremy P said

helidriver72 said
Well it went for $3500, I guess a couple people thought it was close to right. If it was no doubts right in every way would you guys say it would be more like $5k plus?
  

No, $3500 is right about where they've gone for a few years now (when original/correct).
  

If you find a high condition special model 65 in 218 bee for $3500.00 please pm me!
  

Yes, to be clearer, $3500 for a really nice non-deluxe (special) model!
Pat, you'll sell me a deluxe for 3500 this weekend, won't you?
  

I was offering to buy not sell!! I do have a very nice model 65 25-20 w/bolt peep that will be on the table. Stop by.

antler1 said

Jeremy P said

helidriver72 said
Well it went for $3500, I guess a couple people thought it was close to right. If it was no doubts right in every way would you guys say it would be more like $5k plus?
  

No, $3500 is right about where they've gone for a few years now (when original/correct).
  

If you find a high condition special model 65 in 218 bee for $3500.00 please pm me!
  

Yes, to be clearer, $3500 for a really nice non-deluxe (special) model!

Pat, you'll sell me a deluxe for 3500 this weekend, won't you?

Jeremy P said

helidriver72 said
Well it went for $3500, I guess a couple people thought it was close to right. If it was no doubts right in every way would you guys say it would be more like $5k plus?
  

No, $3500 is right about where they've gone for a few years now (when original/correct).
  

If you find a high condition special model 65 in 218 bee for $3500.00 please pm me!

helidriver72 said
Well it went for $3500, I guess a couple people thought it was close to right. If it was no doubts right in every way would you guys say it would be more like $5k plus?
  

No, $3500 is right about where they've gone for a few years now (when original/correct).