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I purchased this 94 last week… WWII era, serial number is 1,374,605. It has been re-barreled to .219 Zipper… overall in respectable condition… it was drilled for a Lyman 56A, which I’ve removed. I’ll replace it with a steel Lyman 66LA. The top of the receiver in front of the chamber has the typical Winchester “W/P in Oval” proofmark as well as an Oval P… I’ve always understood that the Oval P was stamped on barrels shipped from the factory to shops for installation…. so I’m curious if there is something I should learn about this marking variation?
Ben,
What you have is an aftermarket put together piece parts rifle. The receiver frame is a Post-WW II production piece, manufactured in July 1946. The (P) marking tells us that it was a Mail Order part. The barrel will have a 2-digit year number stamped on the bottom (inside the concave area right next to the receiver frame) that will tell us when it was manufactured. The correct sight for it is the Lyman 56A. Winchester installed/used the 56 series sights up through 1952.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks Bert… I knew you would know. Cheers. Ben
ps… I’ve read that Winchester didn’t start drilling for side mount sights until serial number 1,916,000… so would I be correct to assume that this receiver must have been drilled after leaving the factory? My thinking is, as a “parts gun” it didn’t need the more valuable 56A… the 66LA is a later design, but it was made to fit the 94 and does function better in my opinion.
Ben,
Winchester did begin drilling & tapping the Model 94 receiver frames as a standard feature in the 1916400 serial range. The stated, the Model 64 receiver frames were drilled & tapped beginning in the 1093400 serial range, and it was a special order option for the Model 94 beginning at that same time. The only way to determine if the holes on your Model 94 are factory original or aftermarket is to closely examine them with a loupe. Factory original holes will have bluing in the threads whereas aftermarket holes will not. It is entirely possible that a mail order receiver frame in the serial range of your gun was pre drilled & tapped, as it could have been use for either a Model 64 or a Model 94.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Once again, thank you for the knowledge… I’ve learned a great deal from this “parts” gun and you! I never knew that Winchester would send out receivers to be used… I didn’t consider the relationship to the 64 due to the straight grip… I’m a “parts” guy and when I broke down the values, rifle & sight, it made sense to purchase it. $550. out the door… See you in Cody! Ben
Ben said
Once again, thank you for the knowledge… I’ve learned a great deal from this “parts” gun and you! I never knew that Winchester would send out receivers to be used… I didn’t consider the relationship to the 64 due to the straight grip… I’m a “parts” guy and when I broke down the values, rifle & sight, it made sense to purchase it. $550. out the door… See you in Cody! Ben
You are welcome, and Yes, I will see you in Cody next month 
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
So it was rebarreled with a M64 barrel?
The two proof marks on the front receiver ring indicate the receiver was a mail order part shipped from Winchester?
the 219 zipper barrel mfg is unknown… just stamped with the caliber on top. The front sight ramp appears to be a Lyman… From what Bert said, the receiver is a factory replacement… something I had never heard of. Live & learn…and spend your $$$ before it devalues some more.
steve004 said
The two proof marks on the front receiver ring indicate the receiver was a mail order part shipped from Winchester?
Yes, that is precisely what it indicates. Somebody ordered the receiver frame and then had a 219 Zipper barrel installed on it.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Surprising that Winchester would even sell a frame for outside fitting. Was it a bare frame or with internal parts? Seems like headspace might need adjusting if bare. Are other frame only sales known?
cjs57 said
Surprising that Winchester would even sell a frame for outside fitting. Was it a bare frame or with internal parts? Seems like headspace might need adjusting if bare. Are other frame only sales known?
While not a procedure done very often and somewhat on the rarer side of things. This practice occurred with practically every Model Winchester produced. It also seems to occur more often towards the end of production, once a model was discontinued. The receivers sent out before 1905 won’t have any mail order markings. Often times the only way you’ll know is to have the serial searched by Cody.
I think Bob has a 73 receiver that was a “receiver only” and was never mounted or made into a complete gun.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Maverick said
cjs57 said
Surprising that Winchester would even sell a frame for outside fitting. Was it a bare frame or with internal parts? Seems like headspace might need adjusting if bare. Are other frame only sales known?
While not a procedure done very often and somewhat on the rarer side of things. This practice occurred with practically every Model Winchester produced. It also seems to occur more often towards the end of production, once a model was discontinued. The receivers sent out before 1905 won’t have any mail order markings. Often times the only way you’ll know is to have the serial searched by Cody.
I think Bob has a 73 receiver that was a “receiver only” and was never mounted or made into a complete gun.
Sincerely,
Maverick
I recall a M1886 receiver lettered as a receiver only product. I seem to recall it lettered as a carbine receiver.
cjs57 said
Surprising that Winchester would even sell a frame for outside fitting. Was it a bare frame or with internal parts? Seems like headspace might need adjusting if bare. Are other frame only sales known?
Yes, there are others. I have seen a handful of Winchesters with a Mail Order proof marked receiver frame. I do not know if they were sold as “bare” frames or populated with the internals. That stated, I suspect that they were sold with the bolt, hammer, and trigger components.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
cjs57 said
Surprising that Winchester would even sell a frame for outside fitting. Was it a bare frame or with internal parts? Seems like headspace might need adjusting if bare. Are other frame only sales known?
Yes, there are others. I have seen a handful of Winchesters with a Mail Order proof marked receiver frame. I do not know if they were sold as “bare” frames or populated with the internals. That stated, I suspect that they were sold with the bolt, hammer, and trigger components.
Bert
Yes, I could see where a buyer might want to use his own wood and barrel, but his own internals…. hard to fathom. I suppose if you had a complete rifle with a damaged receiver, you would want to simply transfer your own internal parts – along with barrel, wood, magazine tube.
steve004 said
Yes, I could see where a buyer might want to use his own wood and barrel, but his own internals…. hard to fathom. I suppose if you had a complete rifle with a damaged receiver, you would want to simply transfer your own internal parts – along with barrel, wood, magazine tube.
More likely than not, they were sold and bought for replacing a rifle with a broken tang. Horse back riding can be hell on guns.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
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