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July 22, 2018
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Please weigh in with your thoughts and opinions. Recently acquired round barreled rifle in 30 WCF with full length magazine. 
Appears to be correct—the fit and finish are both good.Rifle is relatively clean and unaltered but the trapdoor is an interesting twist.
How common are the trapdoor buttplates?
A special order—option related to a cleaning rod?
1927 is fairly late in the (rifle 26 inch length) date range.
Possible parts cleanup?
Just curious what any of you might think. The interior storage pocket underneath is not very deep (5 inches or so)
Thanks for the “help”. PH
August 27, 2014
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Pics of the actual wood to metal fit would be very helpful
Don’t know how functional (how many piece cleaning rod) a 5” storage space would be
I have a M92 with the Rod in Butt option that was serialized in 1926
Hard to tell from your pics, but on my gun the screw that attaches the plate is closer to the toe of the stock. Is yours closer to the heel?
“If you can’t convince them, confuse them”
President Harry S. Truman
April 15, 2005
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Paul,
The following is not really “opinion”. Instead, it is a “theory” that is based on empirical evidence.
First, a trap door (TD) crescent butt plate on mid to late 1920s production Model 94 Sporting Rifle is not uncommon. Thus far I have documented (16) of them in the 992683 – 1053413 serial number range (May 1926 – August 1929), and I am very confident that at least a few dozen more exist.
Second, Winchester did not discontinue the 26-inch barreled Sporting Rifles until early 1938 (announced in the January 1938 catalog).
The “Theory” behind the appearance of the TD butt plates on the Model 94 Sporting rifles is based on the fact that in late 1923, Winchester discontinued the Model 1873 (which were standard with a trap door butt). When the Model 1873 was discontinued, a supply of TD butt plates for them remained in inventory, and after a few years of them sitting in stock, Winchester production management made the decision to use up the left-over TD butt plates. Because the Model 94 Sporting Rifle stock dimensions were the same as the Model 1873 Sporting Rifle, it was the most logical place to use them. Accordingly, there were a couple of batches on Model 94 Sporting rifles that were factory equipped with the TD butt plates. The table below is derived from my research survey document. Prior to the year 1926, I have thus far found just (13) Model 1894s with a TD butt (all special order).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 21, 2006
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They are not common, this is the one I currently have, I’ve had 2. This one is 38-55, 26″ r.b. ,1907 vintage. I know this rod itself is a after market manufactured but it fits and it’s functional. There was a previous post here on this topic.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
December 21, 2006
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After Bert’s reply I guess they are more common than I thought, I’ve only ever seen a few of them, and have never seen an actual original rod, it would need to be fairly slim for a 25-35.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
August 27, 2014
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Pics
“If you can’t convince them, confuse them”
President Harry S. Truman
April 15, 2005
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Henry Mero said
They are not common, this is the one I currently have, I’ve had 2. This one is 38-55, 26″ r.b. ,1907 vintage. I know this rod itself is a after market manufactured but it fits and it’s functional. There was a previous post here on this topic.
Very nice 
As I mentioned in my previous reply, prior to 1926, Trap Door butt plates were a special order feature on a Model 1894, and the number of them manufactured was relatively small. In the 354000 – 992000 serial range, I have just (13) of them documented. Unfortunately, the survey conducted by the CFM and published in the ARMAX Vol 5 does not mention the number of TD butt plates found in the 1 – 353999 serial range. I suspect that it was a very small number.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
April 15, 2005
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Tedk said
Pics
Ted,
My guess is that your Model 92 may have been part of the Model 1873 parts clean-up, but that is just a guess on my part. Hopefully Michael will weigh in with what he has observed in his Model 1892 research survey.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
June 12, 2013
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Bert H. said
Paul,
The following is not really “opinion”. Instead, it is a “theory” that is based on empirical evidence.
First, a trap door (TD) crescent butt plate on mid to late 1920s production Model 94 Sporting Rifle is not uncommon. Thus far I have documented (16) of them in the 992683 – 1053413 serial number range (May 1926 – August 1929), and I am very confident that at least a few dozen more exist.
Second, Winchester did not discontinue the 26-inch barreled Sporting Rifles until early 1938 (announced in the January 1938 catalog).
The “Theory” behind the appearance of the TD butt plates on the Model 94 Sporting rifles is based on the fact that in late 1923, Winchester discontinued the Model 1873 (which were standard with a trap door butt). When the Model 1873 was discontinued, a supply of TD butt plates for them remained in inventory, and after a few years of them sitting in stock, Winchester production management made the decision to use up the left-over TD butt plates. Because the Model 94 Sporting Rifle stock dimensions were the same as the Model 1873 Sporting Rifle, it was the most logical place to use them. Accordingly, there were a couple of batches on Model 94 Sporting rifles that were factory equipped with the TD butt plates. The table below is derived from my research survey document. Prior to the year 1926, I have thus far found just (13) Model 1894s with a TD butt (all special order).
Bert
Don’t know if I had given you this one for your survey. serial no 1001628; 30 wcf; 26 inch octagon; type 6 barrel marking; trap door butt, mfg 1927
April 15, 2005
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antler1 said
Bert H. said
Paul,
The following is not really “opinion”. Instead, it is a “theory” that is based on empirical evidence.
First, a trap door (TD) crescent butt plate on mid to late 1920s production Model 94 Sporting Rifle is not uncommon. Thus far I have documented (16) of them in the 992683 – 1053413 serial number range (May 1926 – August 1929), and I am very confident that at least a few dozen more exist.
Second, Winchester did not discontinue the 26-inch barreled Sporting Rifles until early 1938 (announced in the January 1938 catalog).
The “Theory” behind the appearance of the TD butt plates on the Model 94 Sporting rifles is based on the fact that in late 1923, Winchester discontinued the Model 1873 (which were standard with a trap door butt). When the Model 1873 was discontinued, a supply of TD butt plates for them remained in inventory, and after a few years of them sitting in stock, Winchester production management made the decision to use up the left-over TD butt plates. Because the Model 94 Sporting Rifle stock dimensions were the same as the Model 1873 Sporting Rifle, it was the most logical place to use them. Accordingly, there were a couple of batches on Model 94 Sporting rifles that were factory equipped with the TD butt plates. The table below is derived from my research survey document. Prior to the year 1926, I have thus far found just (13) Model 1894s with a TD butt (all special order).
Bert
Don’t know if I had given you this one for your survey. serial no 1001628; 30 wcf; 26 inch octagon; type 6 barrel marking; trap door butt, mfg 1927
You did, and it is on the list that I posted in my first reply in this topic string.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
