Winchester Model 94 Identification

PRE-64:   The Winchester model 1894 was introduced in October of 1894 apparently starting at serial number 1.  In late 1963 it ended at serial number 2,6000,011.  Individual parts interchanged for most of these guns with exceptions of pistol grips, barrels & some stocks for the different variations.  This model also had some siblings that also used most of the same internal parts.  These models included the model 55, & the model 64.  All of the post-64 guns were all top eject models.

Calibers included 25-35, 30 WCF (30-30), 32 Winchester Special, & 38-55,  & in a small quantity of 219 Zipper in the model 64.

The original standard 26″ octagon barrel rifle version

This model rifle up to about 1930 could have had a round or octagon 26″ barrel.  Even a part round/part octagon barrel could have been had if special ordered.  They usually had a steel crescent shaped buttplate as shown above. They also could have been special ordered with a 1/2 pistol grip stock & lever, or even a take-down version.   After the Depression of the early 1930s, many versions were dropped & the commonly seen one was the 20″ round barreled carbine.  The carbine usually would have had a different steel “carbine” buttplate with a flat comb until about serial number 1,100,000 when the later “flat” type buttplate became common.   Some carbines had a “Sling Ring” attached to the left hand side of the rear receiver, & were commonly called  Saddle Ring Carbines or “SRC”.   This SRC version was stopped before WWII & a flat standard grooved or checkered steel buttplate was then used.

The SRC carbine 20″ barrel version, note sling ring in lower picture

The 94  & the model 55 could have been had in special order with a “Takedown” barrel version.  This had a barrel extension permanently attached to the barrel & fitted to the receiver using an interrupted thread system where the magazine tube front lock system could be twisted unthreading the magazine tube from this extension & the front of the receiver, dropping the lever slightly to allow the barrel & forearm assembly to be completely removed from the firearm.   This feature apparently was also dropped in about 1930.

The model 94s did not have any checkering on the wood unless it was a special order gun.   The model 55 used a longer 24″ barrel & a 1/2 length magazine tube.  The model 64 was a pistol gripped improved version of the preceding  model 55, & could have been had in “Standard” uncheckered wood or a “Deluxe” with checkered wood & sling swivels.

After WWII when commercial production was resumed, the 20″ carbine was the only model that survived other than the model 64.  This carbine sported a rounded comb buttstock & ramped front sight base & was the common version until the end of 1963.

Wood would have been walnut, except for some SRC guns that had gumwood.

The later standard 20″ barrel carbine

Original sights were varied over the years, as well as aftermarket ones possibly fitted over the firearm’s lifespan, so it would be hard to truly identify exactly what was original without a lot of leg work.

If a scope was desired on this model, it had to be offset to the left side to clear the ejection of the fired case.

Serial number 1,000,000 was presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1927.  On 5-08-1948 serial number 1,500,000 was presented to President Harry Truman.  1953 saw serial number 2,000,000 presented to President Dwight Eisenhower.  2,500,000 was made in 1961.

POST-64: The post-64 version started life at serial number 2,700,000.  The complicated & expensive machining of the pre-64 gave away to a easier to make post 64 version utilizing a cast receiver, stamped out or cast parts, stained birch wood, & it went thru many changes & variations until the USRA factory shut down in mid 2006. 

There was a rumor that these easier to make guns & seemingly lesser quality were made in Japan.   This is totally false.

These post-64 models were made totally different internally, using completely different parts, with about 95% non interchangeability with the earlier post-64 versions.   The exterior physical characteristics were quite the same as the pre-64 guns however, which leads to confusion when ordering parts for those not really familiar with this model.

About all the parts that come to mind that do or can be made to interchange from the post-64 to the pre-64s are the magazine tube for the 20′ carbine, magazine spring, magazine follower, rear barrel band & screw for the carbine, & the tang screw.  Forearms & buttstocks can be made to fit.

Calibers were 7mm Waters, 30-30, 307 Win, 32 Win Spl, 356 Win, 375 Big Bore, 44 Magnum, 45 Long Colt, 357 Magnum & even the 410 shotgun.

Many different versions were offered from the “Ranger” which was a economy model, up to an XTR deluxe version.  The XTR version was introduced in 1978.  The stocks were checkered on all but the Ranger series.  The checkering was done on a computer controlled machine lacking the fine lines of the older hand checkered stocks.

Serial number 3,000,000 was made in 1967, with 4,700,000 in January of 1980.

There was a whole series of Commemorative models made during this time.

TOP EJECT:  The early post-64 guns were top eject like their predecessors.

ANGLE EJECT:   When the perceived desire for mounting scopes became an important sales tool, the model was changed to the “angle eject” style so the scope could be mounted directly on the top of the receiver.   This took place in 1983 at about serial number 5,300,000.

This Page Under Construction

Originated 09-23-2006

PRE-64:   The Winchester model 1894 was introduced in October of 1894 apparently starting at serial number 1.  In late 1963 it ended at serial number 2,6000,011.  Individual parts interchanged for most of these guns with exceptions of pistol grips, barrels & some stocks for the different variations.  This model also had some siblings that also used most of the same internal parts.  These models included the model 55, & the model 64.  All of the post-64 guns were all top eject models.

Calibers included 25-35, 30 WCF (30-30), 32 Winchester Special, & 38-55,  & in a small quantity of 219 Zipper in the model 64.

The original standard 26″ octagon barrel rifle version

This model rifle up to about 1930 could have had a round or octagon 26″ barrel.  Even a part round/part octagon barrel could have been had if special ordered.  They usually had a steel crescent shaped buttplate as shown above. They also could have been special ordered with a 1/2 pistol grip stock & lever, or even a take-down version.   After the Depression of the early 1930s, many versions were dropped & the commonly seen one was the 20″ round barreled carbine.  The carbine usually would have had a different steel “carbine” buttplate with a flat comb until about serial number 1,100,000 when the later “flat” type buttplate became common.   Some carbines had a “Sling Ring” attached to the left hand side of the rear receiver, & were commonly called  Saddle Ring Carbines or “SRC”.   This SRC version was stopped before WWII & a flat standard grooved or checkered steel buttplate was then used.

The SRC carbine 20″ barrel version, note sling ring in lower picture

The 94  & the model 55 could have been had in special order with a “Takedown” barrel version.  This had a barrel extension permanently attached to the barrel & fitted to the receiver using an interrupted thread system where the magazine tube front lock system could be twisted unthreading the magazine tube from this extension & the front of the receiver, dropping the lever slightly to allow the barrel & forearm assembly to be completely removed from the firearm.   This feature apparently was also dropped in about 1930.

The model 94s did not have any checkering on the wood unless it was a special order gun.   The model 55 used a longer 24″ barrel & a 1/2 length magazine tube.  The model 64 was a pistol gripped improved version of the preceding  model 55, & could have been had in “Standard” uncheckered wood or a “Deluxe” with checkered wood & sling swivels.

After WWII when commercial production was resumed, the 20″ carbine was the only model that survived other than the model 64.  This carbine sported a rounded comb buttstock & ramped front sight base & was the common version until the end of 1963.

Wood would have been walnut, except for some SRC guns that had gumwood.

The later standard 20″ barrel carbine

Original sights were varied over the years, as well as aftermarket ones possibly fitted over the firearm’s lifespan, so it would be hard to truly identify exactly what was original without a lot of leg work.

If a scope was desired on this model, it had to be offset to the left side to clear the ejection of the fired case.

Serial number 1,000,000 was presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1927.  On 5-08-1948 serial number 1,500,000 was presented to President Harry Truman.  1953 saw serial number 2,000,000 presented to President Dwight Eisenhower.  2,500,000 was made in 1961.

POST-64: The post-64 version started life at serial number 2,700,000.  The complicated & expensive machining of the pre-64 gave away to a easier to make post 64 version utilizing a cast receiver, stamped out or cast parts, stained birch wood, & it went thru many changes & variations until the USRA factory shut down in mid 2006. 

There was a rumor that these easier to make guns & seemingly lesser quality were made in Japan.   This is totally false.

These post-64 models were made totally different internally, using completely different parts, with about 95% non interchangeability with the earlier post-64 versions.   The exterior physical characteristics were quite the same as the pre-64 guns however, which leads to confusion when ordering parts for those not really familiar with this model.

About all the parts that come to mind that do or can be made to interchange from the post-64 to the pre-64s are the magazine tube for the 20′ carbine, magazine spring, magazine follower, rear barrel band & screw for the carbine, & the tang screw.  Forearms & buttstocks can be made to fit.

Calibers were 7mm Waters, 30-30, 307 Win, 32 Win Spl, 356 Win, 375 Big Bore, 44 Magnum, 45 Long Colt, 357 Magnum & even the 410 shotgun.

Many different versions were offered from the “Ranger” which was a economy model, up to an XTR deluxe version.  The XTR version was introduced in 1978.  The stocks were checkered on all but the Ranger series.  The checkering was done on a computer controlled machine lacking the fine lines of the older hand checkered stocks.

Serial number 3,000,000 was made in 1967, with 4,700,000 in January of 1980.

There was a whole series of Commemorative models made during this time.

TOP EJECT:  The early post-64 guns were top eject like their predecessors.

ANGLE EJECT:   When the perceived desire for mounting scopes became an important sales tool, the model was changed to the “angle eject” style so the scope could be mounted directly on the top of the receiver.   This took place in 1983 at about serial number 5,300,000.

This Page Under Construction

Originated 09-23-2006