Mike,

I will assume that you are referring to the forend stock, which was reduced in length at the end of the year 1950.  The most likely reason was simple cost reduction.  By shortening the length of the forend stock from 9⅛” to 7⅞”, it significantly reduced the amount of walnut consumed to make the stocks.  It also reduced the weight of the finished gun, thereby reducing the shipping cost.

Bert

David McNab said

The cost savings of an inch and a half of material would be negligible and same for any weight reduction.

However, there were shortages of good quality walnut in the post-war years as military production demand for gunstocks and other items had consumed a lot of timber.  

David,

I disagree with your assertion.  If you consider the fact that Winchester manufactured an average of 69,330 Model 94 Carbines per year from 1946 – 1963 (1,247,945 total made), the cost savings in material alone becomes quite noticeable.  With the stock length reduced by just 1.25″, it saved nearly 130,000 lineal feet of American Black Walnut stock blank material. Now, calculate the weight of that same amount stock material.  The cost savings was undoubtedly more than just negligible.

Winchester’s production methods were highly influenced by cost, which in the end led to their demise.  The Post 1963 guns are a prime example of what cost cutting Bean Counters can do to what was once a successful product and business.

Bert

clarence said

Well, there was gumwood, often used previously on carbines  No military demand for that.

US economy was booming in the ’50s–strange time for Win to be pinching pennies.  

Winchester ceased using the cheaper and lighter weight Gumwood for stock material in the early 1920s. I suspect they abandoned using it due to supply shortages.  

Corporate Bean Counters seldom ever pay much attention to the condition of the U.S. economy… it is all about profit margins!  The ongoing Korean conflict was also undoubtedly a contributing factor to cost cutting measures.