Log In
June 12, 2013
Offline
At a recent gun show I had an individual telling me a story about a select group of model 94 rifles during the period that had the W stamp below serial number that had a red W stamp to represent a special firearm. My understanding is the W stamp was to identify a certain blueing process. Can anybody shed some light on this red W marking or if it even exists. Color me dubious
April 30, 2023
Offline
This is from Renneberg’s 94 reference materials:
Not to be confused with modern Miroku units….never seen one painted red.
June 12, 2013
Offline
This was my understanding but I never heard of a red letter W
April 15, 2005
Online
I believe that the U.S. Repeating Arms Company (not Winchester) placed a large script style “W” on the bottom of the pistol grip cap on one specific variant of the Model 94 (possibly the XTR variant) sometime in the later part of 1980s or in the 1990s. Winchester (1894 – 1980) to the best of my knowledge did not mark any Model 94s with a “W“.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 21, 2006
Offline
This is My gun,
it’s the one in the Madis book ,page 434,. A number of years back a friend of mine , (Bud Davies), in Boca Raton Fl. had one similar , I don’t remember the ser# but it was about the same vintage as this one, I do remember it was a 24″ xtra lite, 1/2 o.b. 1/2 mag. takedown with a fancy pistol grip stock and s.g.b. It also had the 2 big “W’s” stamped under the receiver, and takedown flange, but they did have faded red enamel, filling in the W’s. I remember I had no doubt , at the time that it was factory markings, and I still feel the same way. I was trying to buy the gun from Bud , He said He’d had it a long time and wasn’t available. He had the same story as Madis , that it was a factory sales or exhibition shooters gun. I tried to find out where it went after He passed , but no luck.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
April 15, 2005
Online
Henry,
Thanks for posting the picture! I suspect that the large “W”s were actually engraved on that rifle. The salesman’s exhibition sample theory is quite plausible. I too would really like to find the other example rifle.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
June 12, 2013
Offline
This may be what the individual at the gun show was referring to as he stated it was shown in the Madis book. I didn’t have the book with me so couldn’t look it up. But he the looked at my model 55 with the W and stated I had what he was referring to but the red was worn off. Hence my color me dubious statement.
April 15, 2005
Online
antler1 said
This may be what the individual at the gun show was referring to as he stated it was shown in the Madis book. I didn’t have the book with me so couldn’t look it up. But he the looked at my model 55 with the W and stated I had what he was referring to but the red was worn off. Hence my color me dubious statement.
Pat,
There is no comparison to the “W” marking on your Model 55 and the rifle that Henry has.
This is a picture of your Model 55 rifle…
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
1 Guest(s)
