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Wouldn’t that be the wrong tang sight for a model 94??? That sight should be on a 92…….Also, the barrel looks to have had a rear sight on it at one time. If there was a blank there shouldn’t be any “wear” to the top of the barrel in front of the reciever??? I’m not one of the experts on here, but the barrel looks a little fishy to me……
I really like this 94, will be looking forward to hearing more about it from the experts here.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
The letter D under the Lyman sight is correct for the Model 1894’s in 32-40 and 38-55 calibers. The DA is for the other calibers, so that doesn’t seem right for a factory installation. The rifle letters with the sight blank and the wear to the rear of the sight blank could be due to normal handling wear but could also very likely be due to the blank having been removed and replaced with a sight with an elevator, which would explain the wrong tang sight added back on later. It is hard to see from the photos but the left side of the blank may have some flattening due to being hammered out and we can’t see the edge from the right side – a top angle photo of the sight blank would be useful.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
November 7, 2015
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I like it too, but it’s an old Winchester so what else is new? Sight blank does look a little odd but I don’t know what blank they used on a rifle like this. I suppose someone could have put in a buckhorn at some time over the years.
January 26, 2011
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Fellows
This is a fantastic short rifle, and Id be proud to add it to my collection. Yes, it appears that someone pulled the blank and had a standard rear sight on the gun. They likely pulled the original tang sight at the same time. Just like many of us do, someone in the last 120 years decided to try and put it back to what it started out with, possibly the current owner. I would do the same thing and get it to match the letter as best I could. They got the application code wrong according to caliber, but not something that would be hard to correct.
It has great letter with the 5 cartridge mag and the 50 yard target note being the most appealing line items to me. I am very fond of the odd mag lengths on my 1894 short rifles. The other rarity, or less common feature is the dovetailed front sight. This only shows up on the early ELW rifles. They quickly realized that this practice left very little meat in the barrel. They transitioned to the ramp front sights on the vast majority of the ELW round barrels in short order.
Lets not split hairs folks, this is a nice rifle.
~Gary~
We collectors are so fickle about condition. If this was a common pre-64 from the 1950’s it would be considered a dog condition wise. But……. because it is so early and special order etc. we don’t care. I would love to own it!
What would this 94 be considered from an overall condition perspective? 70%?
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
January 26, 2011
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Kevin
I would probably push it closer to 80% but we all know this varies greatly between all of us. CJS57 is right, I look at the earlier ones a little differently than the later guns. This rifle is right down my alley and I just look for a set of special order features that are unique and different than any other I have, or have encountered. I’m a little biased towards these ’94 shorties though.
~Gary~
Thanks Gary, always interesting to see how collectors evaluate Winchesters differently and it’s very educational for us newer collectors trying to learn as much as possible in the least amount of time.
I decided I was going to learn as much about 1873s and 1886s as I could and stick to them, but I’m really becoming drawn towards the 1894s as well.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
January 26, 2011
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Kevin
I tried very hard to steer clear of ’94s at first, I guess it was because there are so many of them and it seemed like a common focus for collectors. After a couple years, I couldn’t resist all the different configurations and options you find on them. They are a bit more in my price range as well. I think I’m up to 12 of them and 9 of those are short rifles. Call me sometime if you want to chat about 94’s or any others. I think you had my number from Reno.
~Gary~
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