anything wrong with the win94 after 1964?

Here is an excerpt from Chuck Hawks that sums it up pretty well: "In the early 1960s the production costs of the traditional Model 94 with all of its forged steel parts had risen dramatically. Winchester executives realized that soon the Model 94 would have to be priced beyond the reach of the average hunter. To save the Model 94 and restore a reasonable profit margin, Winchester redesigned the action for cheaper manufacture, substituting stamped sheet metal and roll pins for parts previously machined from forged steel. The steel buttplate became plastic and a less durable metal finish was substituted for the traditional bluing. The new guns still worked and shot just fine despite their aesthetic flaws, but the credibility of the Model 94 took a serious hit, and examples manufactured prior to the 1964 changes became instant classics."


In my experience, both rifles shoot fine but the integrity of the pre-64s is unmatched. I have owned 6 or 7 of these, both pre and post 64s and I can say with certainty that the wood and metal finish on the post-64s flakes and speckles alot easier than the pre-64s. It seems like you find more post-64s out there with speckled receivers than you do pre-64s. They were simply made better. Both shoot fine, but the aesthetic difference is considerable. I have heard that the post-64s are less accurate, but I think that is BS. If you are in the market for one, hold out for a late 40s or 50s 94 in nice shape and it will quickly become a staple in your safe.
 
lilsurfer said:
Here is an excerpt from Chuck Hawks that sums it up pretty well: "In the early 1960s the production costs of the traditional Model 94 with all of its forged steel parts had risen dramatically. Winchester executives realized that soon the Model 94 would have to be priced beyond the reach of the average hunter. To save the Model 94 and restore a reasonable profit margin, Winchester redesigned the action for cheaper manufacture, substituting stamped sheet metal and roll pins for parts previously machined from forged steel. The steel buttplate became plastic and a less durable metal finish was substituted for the traditional bluing. The new guns still worked and shot just fine despite their aesthetic flaws, but the credibility of the Model 94 took a serious hit, and examples manufactured prior to the 1964 changes became instant classics."


In my experience, both rifles shoot fine but the integrity of the pre-64s is unmatched. I have owned 6 or 7 of these, both pre and post 64s and I can say with certainty that the wood and metal finish on the post-64s flakes and speckles alot easier than the pre-64s. It seems like you find more post-64s out there with speckled receivers than you do pre-64s. They were simply made better. Both shoot fine, but the aesthetic difference is considerable. I have heard that the post-64s are less accurate, but I think that is BS. If you are in the market for one, hold out for a late 40s or 50s 94 in nice shape and it will quickly become a staple in your safe.
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The finish flaked off the 94'S made in the 60's and early 70's because it was not bluing, it was some kind of black chrome for want of a better term. In the mid-70's they returned to polished and blued receivers.
 
There are several post-64 versions. Mechanical details differ. Quality improved dramatically.
I have one of the dreaded post '64s with the stamped lifter. It shoots just fine. Actually, I had it altered to shoot .303 Savage; had so much of the ammunition that is was an economical rifle to purchase and convert.
 
After 1964 actions all use a different steel that does not blue. At the factory level it has some kind of a very thin coating that is blued. When this wears away it can not be re blued with normal gunsmithing procedures.

Some of the nicest Winchesters made were pre war (WWII)
 
The receiver went from a complete milled receiver to a investment case receiver. Ruger was the leader in this and used to get his receivers made in Canada (honest) until he opened Pine Tree Casting. You would be floored to find out what is investment case and the quality of investment casting with the new investment materials used nowadays.
That is the skinny on why you cannot blue them as before. Different material and grain structure in the metal used.
 
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