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Looking for info on the short rifle(rarity , production ratio, calibres, etc)?
Any help here is appreciated.
AG
November 2, 2016
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Winter 2018 edition of Win. Collector has a good article on short rifles
April 15, 2005
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AG said
Looking for info on the short rifle(rarity , production ratio, calibres, etc)?Any help here is appreciated.
AG
Are you referring to the Model 1894, or a different model? There is a survey in progress for the Model 1894, and I believe that the fellows surveying the Models 1873 and 1892 have been tracking the Short Rifles found in those models as well.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Yes 1894. Thanks Bert. I forgot to include what model. I will be very interested to read the survey’s on short model 1894’s & 1894 ser #’s 1-9999.
AG
April 15, 2005
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The survey information I have for the Model 1894 Short Rifles is for all serial numbers > 353999. Because the factory warehouse ledger records exist for all of the early serial numbers (1 – 353999), there was no need or reason to survey them.
For the serial numbers > 353999, I have thus far recorded (276) Short Rifles, in six variations, all five calibers, Solid Frames and Take Downs, and seven different barrel lengths.
Generally speaking, Model 1894 Short Rifles are not “rare”, and account for nearly 11% of the Model 1894 Rifles in my survey of serial numbers 353999 – 1012753.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Appreciate the info Bert. Fairly new to this & I purchased a 22” short rifle on the premise it was rare. It wasn’t a huge amount of money($1100) & has some issues, but has a shotgun butt with pistol grip & a period correct Lyman no 1 rear tang/German silver blade front. Lots of patina with very little bluing remaining, but the bore is excellent & rifle in solid working order.
Win some lose some. I still like the rifle.
AG
April 15, 2005
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From the ARMAX article covering the survey of the first 353999 serial numbers, there were 7,023 Short Rifles manufactured, with 2,252 of them having a 22-inch barrel (the 20-inch barrel length is the most common length for the Short Rifles). In total, Winchester manufactured 276,780 Model 1894 “Rifles”, of which 7,023 were Short Rifles. Accordingly, I personally would not classify a Model 1894 Short Rifle as “rare”. I suspect (based on current survey results) that Winchester manufactured at least 15,000 Model 1894 Short Rifles.
In regards to “premises”, generally speaking, in the future it would be wise to take everything that a dealer trying to sell you an old Winchester tells you with a healthy dose of salt. Always get educated (ask questions) before buying the gun.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Good advice Bert. I felt this one to be a snooze you lose situation so I rolled the dice, but I agree 100%, asking questions first makes good sense.
Appreciate your knowledge & replies as always.
AG
November 7, 2015
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Sometimes you just have to trust your gut, AG. On the bright side short rifles tend to be good shooters and are a bit easier to sell than a standard rifle. I like short rifles but I have probably overpaid for at least one. It happens.
Mike
