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Hi All,
First post for me on this board.
I recently shared my newly acquired 1942 Model 94 (1.32M serial #) over on Gunboards, so apologies for any redundancies to those of you that are members of both. Consensus from those kind experts, was that I got a real winner with my first lever action, and I want to do my best to preserve the authenticity of this beauty! (see the last couple of photos below).
I had wanted to add a Williams Peep Sight to improve the shoot-ability over the regular open rear sight, but I don’t want to alter this nice specimen by drilling and tapping the 2 needed holes for this sight. Most of the experts were clear on their recommendations NOT to do anything to alter the rifle.
However, this rifle does already have a SINGLE HOLE and set screw placed in the area where one would typically see the pair of sight screws placed by Winchester (or by owners doing it themselves).
See the first photo below, showing the single screw in the rear upper area of the left side receiver face.
If this rifle has already been altered by someone prior to me by adding this hole, then I may feel more inclined to put the correct holes in the receiver to mount the sight.
But if this “mystery hole” was part of the original design-intent coming out of Winchester, I’ll leave it be – But I’d like to know what that hole is for! It looks like it may be close to the same position as the front screw hole in the second photo but a little larger (which is a 2.0M serial number sample from the local gun store from which I purchased mine).
To try to get an idea of some kind of a pattern of how/when Winchester introduced the 2 holes from the factory for the added sight, I reviewed each of the 5 other M1894’s that the LGS had on the shelf.
Here’s the chronological line-up, including my 1.32M listed first:
1329890: Single set screw and hole (middle sized diameter)(first photo below)
1392815: No holes
1568751: No holes
1753253: No holes
1904362: No holes
2092848: 2 set screw holes (smaller sized diameter)(second photo below)
Does there exist any records that reveal the roll-out plan for these holes coming out of Winchester?
Does anyone have any indication of what the SINGLE HOLE might have been for?
And key for me, is whether this hole has any chance that it was there as-built from the Winchester plant? If so, I will surely leave the rifle as-is.
If not, I may consider drilling and tapping the needed holes for a new Williams Peep Sight, since someone else had already broken the ice, and “tarnished” this rifle’s historical value.
Thanks for the time!
Online
I can tell you that the extra screw & hole is not factory original. Why someone would have drilled & tapped a single hole in that position is unknown, but I suspect it was possibly for a side mount scope.
The date (serial number range) when Winchester began drilling & tapping the Model 94 receiver for the side mount peep sight is a bit cloudy. To explain, the Model 64 receiver is identical to the Model 94, with the only difference being that it was made with a bent (pistol grip) lower tang. The Model 64 was introduced in March of 1933, and for approximately the first 16-months of production, the peep sight holes were a special order option. Beginning in July of 1934, Winchester made the receiver peep sight holes a standard feature for most Model 64s. During this same time period (March 1933 ) Winchester would drill & tap a Model 94 on special order request. Beginning near serial number 1916500 (1952), Winchester made the drilled & tapped holes standard on the Model 94, and continued that practice through the end of production.
For my research survey, what is the serial number on your Model 94?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks Bert for the quick reply.
FYI – my serial number is 1329890 – which I have pinned down only to 1942 serialization. Anything more specific than that would be appreciated.
So, that makes sense, that there was not factory-drilled single hole set-ups, as seen in my 1942.
Based on the 5 rifle survey I did, the first one with the dual holes was the 2.0M serial number.
I mainly wanted to confirm there was not any kind of interim mounting pattern introduced by Winchester earlier, which would make this rifle still 100% pure as-built.
If the single hole I have was something applied after, would there be any value in keeping it as it is? Or does that first alteration kind of give me a little more lee-way to put the holes in that would mount the Williams sight?
Also – I’ve got a bad feeling that the single, slightly larger hole that is there, may interfere with the proper 2-hole pattern needed for the sight.
Is there any fore-aft flexibility on placement of the sight if new holes are to be drilled? Certainly, I need to stay forward of the hammer travel, and rearward of the bolt when it ejects the casing. But not sure if I have the ability to shift its position a little to avoid the existing hole.
Also – Also – Wouldn’t mind some feedback on the scribed markings I found in the underside of the butt plate. (see last 2 photos). Looks like “305-50-16” with some initials in script before the numbers.
Hey there Berger Boy,
Forget about the existing hole in the receiver, it’s there.
Forget about drilling new holes in the receiver.
If you want to shoot the gun with a peep sight.
Get a Tang Sight, your upper tang is drilled already to mount one there.
"I Would Have Rather Lived Through The Industrial Revaluation"
"Instead of The Space Age"
From
The Twilight Zone
I agree with Mark (Hokie)… forget about the hole, and mount a Lyman tang sight.
The serial number on your Model 94 pins it down to April of 1942.
I would guess that the markings on the underside of the butt plate were put there by a former owner, and may be a license number.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks Guys for the Feedback.
This is great historical detective work!
I think I would be hesitant to install a rear tang peep sight, as it looks like those types have base plates that mount over (and cover) the existing tang.
Given the fact that this rifle has the trademark of Winchester engraved so beautifully in it, and that they stopped that practice shortly after mine was made, I really would hate to cover that up (and maybe risk scratching it), by installing a tang-mounted peep sight.
I think based on all the above, I’m most inclined to now just leave the rifle as it is. Leave the single hole I have, as a mystery that someday may get solved. And learn to use the open sights more accurately.
Last time at the range (first time), it seemed that the front sight would need a little drifting to right, as I was consistently grouping to the left about 6-8″. Probably will take a drift punch and hammer to the range, see if I can the windage dialed in, and then work on my sight picture placement for this model.
Great forum, and thanks for the responses!
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