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a Winchester Model 94 with a serial number in the 2 million range. According to the charts, that would place the manufacturing date around early late 1963 to early 1964. Is this rifle worth purchasing? Is it on of the dismal post 1964 rifles where Winchester really cheaped out the manufacturing process. I don’t have the complete serial number, not until Monday. The rifle looks likes it’s been a safe queen it’s whole life. Blueing is beautiful, however the receiver has a bronze tone to almost a dark copper color to it. It’s strange, but it doesn’t look refinished. It looks almost as if the receiver were made out of anodized aluminum. What say the members?
June 24, 2016
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It has been years since I’ve seen one, but if I’m not mistaken Winchester did make an alloy framed 94 in 44 Magnum.
April 15, 2005
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Model 94 S/N 2-million was manufactured in the year 1953. Serial number 2.7-million was manufactured in early 1964. If the gun you are looking at is a Post-1963 production, it is not worth purchasing (in my opinion) unless it is priced < $250. The bronze tint is normal for the Model 94s manufactured with the sintered steel (cast) receiver frames.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Are the sintered cast steel frames weak? What are, if any, mechanical problems found with these rifles. It is an interesting looking gun and the stock and fore end are beautifully grained pieces of walnut. I know there were howls of derision over the guns made between 1964 and 1968. I can definitely get the rifle for less than $200.00.
April 15, 2005
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[email protected] said
Are the sintered cast steel frames weak? What are, if any, mechanical problems found with these rifles. It is an interesting looking gun and the stock and fore end are beautifully grained pieces of walnut. I know there were howls of derision over the guns made between 1964 and 1968. I can definitely get the rifle for less than $200.00.
The sintered steel receiver frames were used from 1964 – 1978. They are actually stronger than the older forged steel frames, but they would take bluing very well. Winchester plated them in copper before applying a thin iron cost to the sintered steel in an attempt to get them to take the bluing, but it failed miserably. The real issue with the post-1963 production Model 94s was that they open up all of the tolerances on the parts assembled into the receiver which created a sloppy (loose fitting) action. Today, no self-respecting Winchester collector wants one of them for anything except maybe to use as a “truck” gun.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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