Manufacture Date 94AE Question|Page 6|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

Jeff Frazier said
I have a 94 serial nbr 6559710 in 25-35. Previous owner claims it was FN built with a metal cresent buttplate when he purchased, and ALSO that he changed the plate to a flat plastic Winchester plate that was marked FN. I can find ZERO data that supports any “special” designation of FN nor that it would have a steel cresent butt plate. Am I being sold a story here? 

the buttplate (plastic) was damaged, so I ordered a repro plate that matches the hole spacing and approx dimensions that also matches the checkering pattern/design of the original

thanks for any help with date of mfg and builder etc  

The serial number you mention identities it as a U.S. Repeating Arms Company (U.S.R.A.Co.) Model 94AE manufactured at the New Haven CT factory sometime after the year 2002.  At that time, the U.S.R.A.Co. was a subsidiary of Fabrique Nationale (FN Herstal).

It is not possible to change out a steel crescent butt plate with a flat plastic butt plate without also swapping out the entire butt stock.  At the time your Model 94AE was manufactured, many different variations were offered… some with a steel crescent butt plate, and some with the flat plastic butt plate.

Bert

Jeff Frazier said
Thanks Bert. I’ve since found information to suggest a late 05 to mid 06 DOM. Mostly was concerened that since my pup actually destroyed the butt plate, I would be losing value installing a repro plastic plate. I did find an exact match to the hole spacing and overall dimensions that will take a “bit” of fitting, but it will look as tho it was born there when I’m finished with it. Also was concerned that if it had a steel cresent, that I had one that had been modified without me knowing. Its not short enuf to suggest that someone cut enuf off the stock to remove all the inlets for the steel plate. Thanks again. Wanting to make sure Mr Customer is Ok with a repro pad that matches the original is all. 

  

It cannot be later than March 2006… that is when the U.S.R.A.Co. factory was permanently shutdown.  Further, I know that the final 2006 production guns were in the 6589950 serial number range.  My estimate is that your Model 94AE was manufactured in late 2004 or maybe early 2005.