I wanted to summarize discussions that have occurred on a few threads through the years regarding the left cartridge guide and associated spring/plunger and carrier found on early Model 1894’s from initial production through at least 1905 as of this posting. This configuration is most commonly associated with .38-55’s, but .30 WCF’s and at least one .32 Special have been reported with the left cartridge guide containing a cutout but no spring/plunger.

The “spring-loaded plunger and detent” configuration is mentioned in both Robert Renneberg’s Winchester Model 94: A Century of Craftmanship (Pages: 27, 28, 31) and “THE TRILOGY” – Models 1894/94, 55, 64. 30th Anniversary Edition (2021) [https://winchestercollector.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20220210-Winchester-94-Trilogy.pdf] (Pages: 39, 62, 66, 71, 335). Arthur Pirkle’s Winchester Lever Action Repeating Firearms Volume 3 – The Models of 1894 and 1895 2nd Edition (2009) includes a diagram of what he refers to as a “Type 1” cartridge guide with the rectangular cutout. Pirkle attributes this guide solely to .38-55’s and he does not mention the associated spring/plunger nor does he discuss the altered carrier. I have not reviewed George Maddis’ works yet.

There are also at least 3 posts on this forum that discuss aspects of this topic:

2017 – https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/wanted-parts-diagram-for-1894-first-model/
2018 – https://winchestercollector.org/forum/restoration-repair-and-maintenance/first-year-1894-carrier-problem/
2025 – https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-swap-meet/wtb-spring-for-38-55-cartridge-guide/

For the unfamiliar, in certain Model 94’s the left cartridge guide contains a rectangular cutout meant to house a “small spring-loaded plunger.” The carrier in the rifle will have a “matching detent or relief cut into the side.” Some think the spring is there to give the carrier additional lateral support. Others believe it serves as a type of stop to prevent the carrier from lifting too high.

This left cartridge guide with a cutout and carrier with detent configuration has been confirmed on first model receivers as low as serial number 645 (1894) and second model receivers with serial numbers as high as 275,467 (1905). While only a small sample set of 10, the complete system has been observed on six .38-55’s and partial systems observed on two .30 WCF’s and one .32 Special.

If the left cartridge guide has the cutout, the spring/plunger is consistently present ONLY on .38-55’s. Seemingly the design was phasing out in the 1904 timeline as serial number 222,324 (1904) does not have the left cartridge guide with cutout installed. Some excess supply of the left cartridge guides must have trickled into 1905 as serial number 275,467 reportedly has left cartridge guide with the cutout but no spring.

Here is a summary of the sample set provided by members in the various posts cited above or via private message on the WACA forum, eBay, and GunBroker:

• s/n 645 .38-55, left cartridge guide with cut out and spring is present
• s/n 1658 .38-55, left cartridge guide with cut out and spring is present
• s/n 3149 .38-55, left cartridge guide with cut out but spring is NOT present (suspect the spring is missing)
• s/n 3543 .38-55, left cartridge guide with cut out but spring is NOT present (suspect the spring is missing)
• s/n 5310 .38-55, left cartridge guide with cut out and spring is present
• s/n 173,454 .30 WCF, left cartridge guide with cut out but spring is NOT present
• s/n 194,285 .38-55, left cartridge guide with cut out and spring is present
• s/n 198,657 .30 WCF, left cartridge guide with cut out but spring is NOT present
• s/n 222,324 .38-55, left cartridge guide does NOT have cut out and spring is NOT present
• s/n 275,467 .32 Special, left cartridge guide with cut out but spring is NOT present

Finally, here are some pictures so everyone can see exactly what is being discussed here.

I hope others find this helpful and feel free to chime in about your configuration and correct any facts I may have gotten wrong.