Got a pre 1964 today for $295.00. Was bought by an older man when he was 18 in 1957 for $75.00. He went hunting once with it, cleaned it and put it in a leather bag where it’s been for 63 years. Has three rounds through it. Has some surface rust but is otherwise tight and the wood is in pristine condition. Serial number begins 22*****
Mine is the .32 SP , 1,70,0xxx and is 1951. Was my pops and then my grandpops before that. I'll never sell that gun. I haven't been able to shoot it in 25 years , but am going to get some ammo for it here real soon.
I have a 32 special , made in 1952, the forearm of wood is shorter then the 30/30 .question was there a reason for this. And what dollar value would this rifle be. Love your video , very informative. Still using my rifle today , love it , killed a lot of deer with it hope someday my grandson’s will use it. Db
In 1960 I found a 94 in a hardware store. It had been used and was in wonderful condition. I was 17. I paid $25 for it but a few years later, due to a hardship, had to sell it. I regret that move to this day. That same rifle today is worth over $1,000. I am crying inside.
The rifle arrived today and I dialed in the scope just a couple hours ago ru-vid.comUgkxQt2uORDRfFOVSrO4idv4B90ThT6EOnEL . I haven’t shot with a scope in probably 25 years. The X on the left was my target. (the shot almost in the bullseye on the right X was my father in laws first shot after I made adjustments) The two shots circled are my first 2 shots. Then I brought it down - shot once. Then brought it over to the left. From there zeroed it in to dead center. This all was from 25 yards out. Follow instructions carefully when mounting the scope. So far I'm very happy with the purchase.
A couple years ago I helped a friend get rid of his model 94 gun collection. He had many of them and a few different calibers. There were just under 200 of them. None of the newer rifles were close to a match in quality as the pre 64 models and the quality varied a lot in the newer rifles.
One of the beautiful things about the 94 (& there are MANY). Is that even when you see one that’s been beat to hell and back, it will usually still function like it should and shoot true. I have a ‘46 and ‘61. I’d take either over any of my Suppressed SBR AR15’s and I have a number of them.
Bought my 94 in 1986 from an elderly woman whose husband had passed, she had 2 of them, was selling them for $50.00 apiece, got there too late to buy both of them ,got one of them, all of the deer I have killed have been with this 94,great shooting gun!👍
I grew up observing and admiring my dad's 94 Win .32 that always sat on the upper shelf of my parents' room. Boxes of ammo and individual rounds for it also surrounded the rifle. It always fascinated me as a child and I always thought it was his service rifle when he served as a paratrooper. I finally had the opportunity to shoot it when I was either 15 or 16. My dad took my brother and I to a canyon to shoot it to mark a milestone in our lives. More like a way of demonstrating that I was old enough to know about the importance of guns. I didn't like the recoil, so I never shot it after that until a few years ago when I received it as a gift. It was my first gun even before I ever shot a pistol. I then stocked up on .32WS ammo because it was already pretty hard to find in stores. The only store that had that ammo was Bass Pro but even they would run out and rarely restock. Thankfully, I have more than enough. To my surprise, I finally learned the history of that rifle. Depending on the website and source, it was manufactured in either 1909 or 1912. The rifle is in exceptionally excellent condition. But that's because my father reblued after he bought it from a rancher in the late 50s for a mere $20. I carefully inspected it and it seems that all the parts are original. Some of the stampings are barely visible, which confirms its authenticity. I've shot it a few times and to the surprise of myself and others who were at the desert when I shot it for the second time in my life, I was able to shoot a small 100 yard target several times. I had no experience shooting, so that rifle is extremely accurate. It's one of my bedside home defense guns.
I bought a used ‘55 at a gun store that I ended up working for near my home. It was real beat up, probably bounced around in an old pickup in the Wild West of NM . My favorite gunsmith off site from the store did a fantastic hot re- blue and his wife re- finished the stock. Looks great and shoots straight! Ps. Looks like the one at the bottom of the thumb nail !
You made my day!!!! Thank you so much for posting this great video. I plugged my serial numbers in from the link you provided 2554520... and discovered my rifle was made in 1962. When I bought the rifle the seller said it was made in 1964. The rifle is gorgeous... I had some reservations and really wanted a Pre-64. On closer exam...it had all the classic features, I sprung for it, and it turns out to be what I really wanted.Thank you!!!!
Oleg O good for you ther not really worth a whole bunch I think thers so many around they lasted forever ther is so many deer hunters that all the old guys are passing them down now and the young are selling them they don’t like hunting like the old day ther all vegans and won’t kill a animal for food fuck they won’t kill a chicken for food that’s what I think also a very durable rifle lasted forever you can watch some old videos and see thers lots of them still out ther being used for deer hunting from early 1900 like a hundred plus years see them all the time on you tube videos so I would imagine that the museum s have a lot of them
Changes weren't made to 'maximize profits'. Changes were made to keep the 94 affordable, keep the company solvent, and basically compete with all the other products out there back then.
Good video sir, post 64 productions had QC issues & from 1970s Winchester made some improvements from stamped internals to cast internals & better blueing. For side angle ejections they were 94 AE XTR productions.
Good video. My Winchester 94 is serial # 17218xx, 1950 manufacture in 30/30. Condition is 9 out 10. This is one great rifle, love the history. Will hope my kids/grandkids will appreciate as much as I do.
I have a Buffalo Bill new in box with 24 inch octagonal barrel. Will never shoot it. Will give it to my Grandson when I die. He will be first to shoot it. I will be gone.
Excellent video, thanks. I just walked off with an 1894 chambered in 30WCF, made in 1915, excellent condition, for 240 bucks. The guy wanted to get rid of it because he could no longer find 30 WCF ammo for it and considered it a wall hanger. Imagine that. :-( I didn't tell him the cartridge is now called the 30/30. He was happy with the deal because he had the bucks together to buy an AR-15. And I added a treasure to my collection.
I have a pre 64 chambered in .32 spcl. It was my grandpa's gun, and my father's, and now mine. It will be in my family hopefully long after I am gone. Mine was made in 1958
I am 72 years old and my rifle was built in 1902 and is a 32-40. My dad bought the gun from the original owner and passed it down to my older brother when he was old enough to hunt and then me when I came of age. My youngest (41) son now has possession of our gun and we plan on keeping it in the family.
I own a 1962 94 30/30 , the same year I was born, it has never been fired , i would like to start hunting maine and nh for deer , my question is will this adversely affect the value of the gun , im never going to sell it so maybe I just answered my own question lol , your thoughts...??
You're not really looking at a major investment. Pre vs after is about 300$ difference in price. It was made to be used by hunting and camping and bush trekking. Memories made will be far more valuable than the maybe 750$ it's currently worth.
Interesting to see how many 1962s were mentioned in the comments. I recently went looking for a 94 and I figured why not get a pre-64 in the year of my birth which is 1962. Saw one beauty but priced a bit high - ended up with a great post 64 for less that half the price, great condition and accurate like all get out. Happy about your year-of-birth '62! Now go fire it and enjoy it!!!
@@MyDarkSide62 one just sold on gun broker for 7500.00 1962 unfired, mine has a better looking stock at this point I’m saving this one for a museum lol I’ll find another shooter!!
Outstanding video! I love the model 94 Winchester. The single greatest rifle ever made, and the 30-30 Winchester cartridge is a masterpiece for all American Big game. Buffalo Bore ammunition, 190 grain is a powerhouse.
Hey Robert that's a sweet combination of Winchesters you have there! Similarly, I own a 1976 commemorative almost identical to your '70. So awesome. Always wanted Winchester's M64 deer rifle.... Settled on a 24" barreled 1981 commemorative, in 32WS! Very capable works of art for sure.
Nice I have 1951 94 in 32 special bluing is still 95% wood still in fantastic shape had a 1979 frontiersman number l444 in 38-55 24 inch half round and octagon barrel buetiful straight grain walnut with a medallion in the buttstock and engraving on both sides of the receiver
I have a 94 with the tang safety. I haven't ever shot it. I bought it used from a pawn shop years ago. The wood is very dark and in pristine condition and the blueing is flawless. I have a few JM stamped marlins and a couple glenfields all in 30-30. I don't shoot much, I just love guns.
Mine is a 1937. Same history as yours, Grandfathers, Fathers, Mine and will someday be my sons. It’s in excellent condition. I just used it at my week in deer camp.
I too have a Golden Spike Commerorative, left to me by a favorite uncle. I have a 1913 production 2nd model with a saddle ring and a Trapper Model made just before the angle eject came out. I would not own an angle eject or crossbolt safety model.
I recently acquired a Pre 64 Winchester Model 94 30-30. The stock had previously been refinished and it's OK, but I am not completely satisfied and thinking of doing it again. Do you have any recommendations on refinishing..ie..stains, finishes, etc.? Thanks.
Correct, if the screw is present then it's a pre '64. Much easier than looking up the serial number range. Video was kinda useless. I'ma have to dislike.
Great video and wonderful information. Thank you for the link for dating the rifle. I just checked mine and the date was 1915. It has been handed down in my family for generations and will go to my son as well. I got my first mule dear at 16 with this rifle back in 1973 and it is still in working shape. Thanks again for the great video.
The LE rounds are great but . . . some people have accuracy issues. This isn't the ammo, but the different harmonics created in the rifle because of the higher pressure and increased muzzle velocity. LE gets pretty close to the max chamber ratings. If you find it's inaccurate, you need to reload and tune the powder charge for your particular rifle. Know a couple people that did that and they are very happy with the performance they're getting. BTW, I'm a 336 fan.
I have a 1962 model 94 that fires Remington core-lokt rounds perfectly. I tried the lever evolutions and they spat all over the place. I fired 8 rounds and gave the rest away. Back to the rems
The information here was very helpful. One thing I’ve noticed that none of the Winchester videos ever talked about gun fights in the old west or any other place in the US using the Winchester rifle, I think people would like to hear about that. On Pawn Stars they had a Winchester rifle used in the hatfield and McCoy feud. If you would be so kind as to make a video and touch on that I would appreciate it.
The 1894 also saw duty in the Mexican revolution, Indian wars, WWI and WWII. The one I have , from my grandfather, was brought back from Mexico in the late 40s to early 50s, and all I can make out of the serial number is a 5 and 7, the rifle has seen some serious use.
I have a miroku winchester deluxe short rifle, they are really nice & beautiful and I personaly like the tang safety because you can cock the hammer and pull the trigger with the safety engaged, but it blocks the hammer from hitting the firing pin. So you can use the safety to safely decock the weapon with a round in the chamber. plus it holds 7 in the mag if you need it...
I believe the cross bolt safety and angle ejection were huge improvements for the 94. Lever evolution ammo has helped the cartridge keep its validity . I would take an AE model 94 with scope , over a pre 64 for all day long.
I disagree the safety is useless but each to ther own I think pre 64 is the best ther is so many people that won’t buy it because the safety don’t make sense now if the safety was on the tang could deal with that but not a cross bolt safety it’s probably the most hated thing that they changed I believe it was fn that started that trend thers guy on you tube showing people how to take out and plug that’s how hated that one is the sales went down cause of it
I’m aware of the lead pushing down a bit after tubular magazine pressure so as my father taught me was to not load more than 3-4 rounds.... plus he used a.35 Marlin, my first was a M 94 .32 Win Special side mounted weaver scope. We always ejected the same rounds upon getting back to the truck. I always did notice my oldist rounds to have the lead pushed in a bit..? You mentioned that this could be a hazard? Was there ever an actual reported incident where a lever game rifle discharged whilst in the magazine??
Got my pre 64 1894 30-30 in excellent condition for $500. Brought it home, torrent down, cleaned out the old oil that looks like cosmoline. Oiled it up with Hoppes, took it out today and put 20 Flawless round at 120 yd with no sight adjustments. My new favorite rifle almost above my black war machines set the Dems hate.
AZ, have in my family a 30-30 Winchester rifle that we cannot find a Serial number anywhere. We looked at the spot of the bottom of the receiver where it meets the bottom of the wood forestock and there is no serial # at this location. There are no #'s on the barrel . Do you have any suggestions that would help us in determine what year this rifle ??? Any information would be appreciated. Thank you.scott
American gun companies were not supposed to produce sporting arms during ww2 there were some model 94s made off the books that did not have a serial no if I remember correctly these are stamped 30 wcf when production officially started back after the war they are stamped 30 30
Can anybody help with info? I have the winchester model1894, 64-30, 24 inch barrel serial no.65xxx.. Looking to see year of manufacture and approximate value. Can send pictures. I've been looking all over for a date/value for months and I'm all over the place,just cannot seem to get any accurate info.thanks for ANY info. This rifle was handed down to me by my brother in law that passed away last month.He got it from his grandfather. And don't know if he got it from his dad.RIP Steve!
AZ, both the pre 64 Winnie's and pre-cross bolt Marlin 336's can "Bump Fire" at full cock because of their trigger design. My great uncle died when out walking the fence line with a 1894 Winchester. He went to step over a small ditch and slipped; he went to catch himself with the butt of the rifle like you may with a walking stick, and the rifle went off. They found him in the field the next day. My brother-in-law came home from a visit with his Grandfather's pre 64 Winnie; it would bump fire a foot off the carpet on full cock in the living room when tested. You should have seen my mom's face when see saw what happen to her Grandfather. The hammer spring is the only thing that holds the sear engaged at full cock - there is nothing else. The hammer spring will get weak over time; people go in and do their thing, or it just wears sear engagement over time where it becomes lite; or they put a lite hammer spring in the rifle to 'lighten-up the trigger pull; Do Not do these things with these rifles, and always test how these old rifle's function. The trigger design should break clean and consistent every time, but it should be at a hunting pull weight. The cross bolt safety is easily defeated, put a rubber O-ring over the grove and forget it was ever there. Just beware and know what you just did by doing so. I think is was over kill too, but I know why. Don't just play them off as being redundant due to litigation; they are redundant do to ignorance over time through litigation. I hunted with my brother-in-laws rifle, they are a true gem and a pleasure to carry. I reckon they will last another 100 years if we pass on the knowledge.
My late father's rifle 32 special was bought new for him when he turned 12 he was born Feb 8th of 1932, he never liked any other rifle not even the 3006 I can vouch for why he liked the 32
Excellent video!! Very informative of a fantastic rifle. I bought a 1913 Model 1894 from a fellow hunter in the woods of Vermont for $40 in 1997. I must say, if you need a scope on a 150yd brush gun.... Then you need to figure out a different way to hunt. Excellent firearm, but a bit over engineered when compared to the Marlin 336. But so smooth. Beyond reliable, accurate, hard hitting, and mine has well over a hundred deer and black bear taken (combined). Again, great video on my go to rifle.
Thanks for a great general overview of the Winchester 94! I think you could easily produce a "Part 2" story that explores and explains why Winchester produced the ".32 Winchester Special" caliber - which is the rifle my father bought me as my first deer rifle back in 1973. Thankfully, he had the insight to purchase a mint condition piece that was manufactured in 1958. You could also explore and report on the near impossible task of trying to find ammunition for such a specialized caliber. As such, I am currently in the middle of securing all my components to reload my own - using original brass, the Hornady 32 Cal .321 170 gr InterLock® FP bullet, and Hornady LEVERevolution powder. Unfortunately, there are no current modern options to purchase that would mimic the wonderful Winchester 170 gr Silvertip. To add to your list of "cons" (which is hard to say when discussing this historical gun) is the inability to utilize modern slings to carry it. Obviously, the pre 64's are hand carried all day in the field. Irrespective of the fact it's around 7 pounds, it feels like 10 pounds by the end of a long day walking flats and hollows. Hope you take the opportunity to revitalize this historical rifle and further report on it's development over the years.
After 64 Winchester went with some mystery metal for the receiver. They kept it for a while and switched back to better steel. It's un-American to buy a Japanese made Winchester.
I have a ‘94 made in 1923 in excellent condition in the original 38-55 cal., a 26” barrel land crescent butt plate. The difference in quality compared to post 64s is obvious.
Haven't tried the flex-tip bullets yet, but I bought a couple of boxes to try. Don't know if they would ever be in the tube long enough to possibly deform and we in WA state can't have a loaded rifle or shotgun in our vehicles. Handguns yes with a CWP. Your video is full of information and I enjoyed your presentation.
i got my Model 94 saddle carbine (production early 1907) from my father who got it from his father and so on back to original purchase and it is one of my absolute favorites in my collection
Much quicker to tell pre 64 from post 64 is to look at the two screws behind the loading port. On pre 64s those screws are offset and on the post 64s they are one above the other. Also, the post 64s don't have the little screw on the elevator bottom between the front of the lever and the fore stock. I think, but don't know for sure that the Japanese Winchesters do have that little screws.
Love the 94, been hunting with it for 30 years.. Dropped a white tail at a 175 yrds. Open sight's... Walked it off with a gas Piper's wheel. We had a bet, I won!!!!😁
Very good video! I too don't mind the cross-bolt safety on the Marlin, but not the Winchester. The same for scopes. The 94 is perfect the way it is. David Petzal did a good article on the two brands and I agree the Marlin is generally the better shooter with exceptions.
Excellent video on an excellent rifle/cartridge for whitetails. Bozo (me!) had a gentlemen beg me to take his 94 off his hands for $100 decades ago (doubt it was pre-64!). Of course I said no! Did end up purchasing a Marlin later at a K-Mart and have never regretted that purchase. Moral of the story, don't be stupid like me!
