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Winchester model 94 Caliber Rarity
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April 21, 2022 - 1:24 pm
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I have looked everywhere but I can’t find a list of model 94 production numbers by caliber. If somebody has that handy please

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April 21, 2022 - 5:57 pm
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Hello,

Here are the results from the ARMAX survey which looked at the first 353,999 Model 1894 rifles Manufactured:

1:2 (45.92%) was a 30 W.C.F. (162,568)
1:5 (22.80%) was a 38-55 (80,734)
1:9 (11.31%) was a 32-40 (40,023)
1:9 (10.45%) was a 25-35 W.C.F. (36,999)
1:11 (8.77%) was a 32 W.S. (31,050)

I am sure that Bert will have some extrapolated numbers for the balance of production from 354,000 to 2,700,000.

Michael

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April 21, 2022 - 6:29 pm
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Well that makes sense with 32 WS being the least production since they didn’t start until 1902. It will be interesting to see numbers that Bert extrapolated from production thru 1963

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April 21, 2022 - 6:59 pm
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twobit said
Hello,

Here are the results from the ARMAX survey which looked at the first 353,999 Model 1894 rifles Manufactured:

1:2 (45.92%) was a 30 W.C.F. (162,568)
1:5 (22.80%) was a 38-55 (80,734)
1:9 (11.31%) was a 32-40 (40,023)
1:9 (10.45%) was a 25-35 W.C.F. (36,999)
1:11 (8.77%) was a 32 W.S. (31,050)

I am sure that Bert will have some extrapolated numbers for the balance of production from 354,000 to 2,700,000.

Michael  

Interesting that for this range of numbers, it was the rarest chambering.  Of course, for many of these years of production – about 8 – it wasn’t available.  

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April 21, 2022 - 8:07 pm
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  What I find interesting is the lowest serial number for the 32 WS is 10,675 but it was made 8/23/02. Maybe worth the search to find out why 10,675 was made in 1902? The serial number is on the receiver, big factories do strange things.

 Is it an antique firearm? The serial number applied date according to the web sight is 1895. T/R

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April 21, 2022 - 8:59 pm
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Interesting that .32 Special is the rarest but yet the least desirable.

Edit:  This is only up to 353,999.  After that they are likely considerably more.  But still a very underrated caliber.

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April 21, 2022 - 9:44 pm
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mrcvs said
Interesting that .32 Special is the rarest but yet the least desirable.

Edit:  This is only up to 353,999.  After that they are likely considerably more.  But still a very underrated caliber.  

But as you know, many a .32 Special owner that actually hunts with his rifle (or carbine) would debate that statement  🙂

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April 22, 2022 - 1:05 am
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mrcvs said
Interesting that .32 Special is the rarest but yet the least desirable.
 

If rarity determined desirability, or collector interest, or value, then S&W revolvers would surpass Colts.  Demand, & only demand, determines desirability, or (to be crass) value.

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April 22, 2022 - 1:30 am
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Based on my research survey, the 32-40 is the least common of the (5) standard cartridges;

 

ARMAX Survey for Serial Numbers 1 – 353999
Caliber Qty %  
30 WCF 162,658 45.949%  
38-55 80,741 22.808%  
32-40 40,023 11.306%  
25-35 WCF 36,999 10.452%  
32 WS 31,052 8.772%  
Blank 2,067 0.584%  
Other 275 0.078%  
Rec/Parts 184 0.052%  
Total 353,999 100.000%  

 

My Survey of Serial Numbers 354000 – 1079689
Caliber Qty % Extrp Qty
30 WCF 4,780 54.368% 394,540
32 WS 1,704 19.381% 140,648
25-35 WCF 869 9.884% 71,727
38-55 699 7.950% 57,695
32-40 661 7.518% 54,559
38-55/30 WCF (2-Bbl sets) 2 0.023% 165
38-55/32 WS (2-Bbl sets) 3 0.034% 248
30 WCF/32 WS (2-Bbl set) 1 0.011% 83

 

Combined caliber totals from 1894 through 1931;

Extrapolated Caliber Totals for Serial Numbers 1 – 1079689 (1894 – 1931)
Caliber ARMAX Qty Survey Qty Total Extrp Qty %
30 WCF 162,658 394,540 557,198 51.668%
32 WS 31,052 140,648 171,700 15.921%
38-55 80,741 57,695 138,436 12.837%
25-35 WCF 36,999 71,727 108,726 10.082%
32-40 40,023 54,559 94,582 8.770%
38-55/30 WCF (2-Bbl sets)   2 165 0.015%
38-55/32 WS (2-Bbl sets)   3 248 0.023%
30 WCF/32 WS (2-Bbl set)   1 83 0.008%

 

For years 1932 through 1963;

S/N Range 30 W.C.F. 32 W.S. 25-35 W.C.F. 38-55 32-40 Total in Range
> 1079689 985,664 408,994 47,852 1,961 490 1,520,322
% 64.83% 26.90% 3.15% 0.13% 0.03%  

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April 22, 2022 - 1:48 am
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It is interesting to see how the popularity of the .32 Special grew a good bit.  

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April 22, 2022 - 10:31 am
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Great info. Thanks Bert. I will copy and save. 

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April 22, 2022 - 11:48 am
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steve004 said
It is interesting to see how the popularity of the .32 Special grew a good bit.    

Keep in mind that the 32 WS was not introduced until 1902 and the ARMX survey data includes 8 years of production which occurred before there was the possibility of the 32 WS being a choice.  It would be more meaningful to look at only the time period AFTER the 32 WAS introduction in the ARMAX “time period” (which the survey does not have) and then compare that percentage to the data from 354000 to 1079689.

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April 22, 2022 - 2:41 pm
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twobit said

Keep in mind that the 32 WS was not introduced until 1902 and the ARMX survey data includes 8 years of production which occurred before there was the possibility of the 32 WS being a choice.  It would be more meaningful to look at only the time period AFTER the 32 WAS introduction in the ARMAX “time period” (which the survey does not have) and then compare that percentage to the data from 354000 to 1079689.

Michael  

I have to agree with Michael. Those figures would be of more interest to me. I am a fan of the 32WS & always have been. 

 Rick C 

   

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April 22, 2022 - 3:11 pm
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How many cartridges did Winchester develop that they named, “Special”?  Yup, Winchester considered this one SPECIAL!

 

Edit – let me add some cartridge trivia.  The Bullard .32-40 cartridge – which is a bottleneck cartridge and quite different from the standard .32-40 – including a different bullet diameter, was called in at least one Bullard catalog, the “.32 Special”.  The rifles were not marked thusly and I can’t recall seeing a box of cartridges marked with the Special nomenclature.  

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April 22, 2022 - 4:43 pm
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steve004 said
How many cartridges did Winchester develop that they named, “Special”?  Yup, Winchester considered this one SPECIAL!

Calling it “.32 WCF” would have been logically consistent with the “.30 WCF” designation, but since the “other” .32 had been previously available, that name might have lead to caliber confusion, which this entirely new name “Special” avoided.

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April 22, 2022 - 5:16 pm
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clarence said

steve004 said
How many cartridges did Winchester develop that they named, “Special”?  Yup, Winchester considered this one SPECIAL!

Calling it “.32 WCF” would have been logically consistent with the “.30 WCF” designation, but since the “other” .32 had been previously available, that name might have lead to caliber confusion, which this entirely new name “Special” avoided.  

Good call Clarence. Never really thought why it was designated that way but totally makes sense. 

 Rick C 

   

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April 22, 2022 - 7:28 pm
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Or, maybe they thought it was really SPECIAL.  🙂   Actually, they might have also been trying to hype it and build some enthusiasm in their newest cartridge.

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April 22, 2022 - 7:36 pm
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The way I look at the 32 SPL is that it may be a great cartridge but the guns are not antique.  When you look at the antique 94’s a lot of collectors prefer the 38-55.  In some cases the 32-40 is preferred over the 30 WCF.

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April 22, 2022 - 11:58 pm
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Just for fun, here’s the table I have for just the ’94 short rifles I’m surveying. The fellows that bought the chopped down specials were clearly 30 WCF guys. We must keep in mind that over 28% of the short rifle survey are ELW models and the 30 WCF completely dominates that group …. over 86%. Any ’94 short rifles that are not 30 WCF are good property, in my narrow-minded opinion.

Total 25-35 47 6.85%
Total 30 WCF 456 66.47%
Total 32 WS 88 12.83%
Total 32-40 32 4.66%
Total 38-55 63 9.18%
No cal. Listed 13 1.86%

                                                                               ~Gary~

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April 23, 2022 - 1:41 am
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pdog72 said
Just for fun, here’s the table I have for just the ’94 short rifles I’m surveying. The fellows that bought the chopped down specials were clearly 30 WCF guys. We must keep in mind that over 28% of the short rifle survey are ELW models and the 30 WCF completely dominates that group …. over 86%. Any ’94 short rifles that are not 30 WCF are good property, in my narrow-minded opinion.

Total 25-35 47 6.85%
Total 30 WCF 456 66.47%
Total 32 WS 88 12.83%
Total 32-40 32 4.66%
Total 38-55 63 9.18%
No cal. Listed 13 1.86%

  

That’s great information – interesting.  It helps explain when I see a short rifle for sale, I’m always let down when it turns out the be a .30 WCF.

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