This is the tale of two 1894s (Pre-64s for those who insist). Great Grandpas 1894 in 32 WS. Another semi likewise abused 1894 in 38-55 from an estate... both missing parts and have broken parts, but enough parts that would make any Winchester original only collector happy (until they hear the rest of the story)
I tear down both rifles. Inspect the parts. Identify the problems. Carrier on 38-55 had binded from missing carrier screw, carrier from 32 ws placed in. Secondary carrier screw inserted as far as could go, thread damage, inserted deep enough for function testing and no damage to carrier would be obtained from cycling. No hammer sear spring, again obtain from other rifle.
38-55 comes alive with the correct period parts. Or at least the action. It has no magazine or stock or sights, small problems at this time.
So then comes the horror, I discover the small hairline crack on the inside corner of the tang. Well F. I hate 32 ws, it's just not on the shelf anymore and consistently been off the shelf for 10 years and I do shop around.
Being this is a project for my Dad I show him the 38-55 working and then the crack on the 32 ws. Well he likes the 32ws better because it's got the octagon barrel. So he says whatever, can't put the magazine tube from the 24" 32 on the 26" 38-55 without putting a new hole for the plug screw. Someone would notice that when you sell it... so just put the 32 ws octagon barrel on the 38-55. Ugh...
1) Headspacing?
Correct me if I'm wrong here. Yes, you can just unscrew a 1894 barrel from one and put it on another in theory. If all 1894s had the threads cut starting at the same position, say 12'o-clock, a person would have no problem taking one off and putting another on. If threads were cut in that manner, if they were a minute or even 5, 8, 10 seconds apart that would create headspacing issues. If you had a receiver at 12:01, and a barrel at 11:59 there would be issues. There would also be issues with a hexagonal barrel too, you would only really want that sucker mili seconds out of relative square to the receiver.
My general thoughts in this were to examine the rifles and then just find parts to get the two guns running. I never inspected the barrels... maybe they a ruined from modern and original neglect from being stored where ever with no care in the world. The 32 was given to my Dad from his father in law who he didn't care for, 38 was just something a relative gave him, so it has no sentimental value to him either way. I didn't think I had any sentimental placement on the 32 until he said just put the barrel on the 38, or maybe I was choked he suggested that and the comments about not being able to swap parts then sell.
The 32 has been moved safe to safe for 30 years... maybe it will continue that way for the next 30 years, project only got steam when boredom happened and I wanted to check them out.
I won't be sending the rifles for a gunsmith to swap barrels.
I would send the 32 for tig welding the crack on the receiver and to have it straightened out. So that leads me to the second point and question.
2) Tig welding and straightening a bent and cracked receiver on a 200,000s serial number. Has anyone had this repair done? Do any gunsmiths have experience doing that? The lower Tang on the 32 is toast, bent and cracked. A new one could be got. The top screw holes on both 1894s also seem to be reamed out a little. Maybe the broken Tang could be used somehow to rectify that with some tigging...
The last thing that comes here now, the rest of the story. The 1894 32 ws was purchased new by my Great Grandfather. They lived in poverty in a small shack in the sticks of Manitoba. The rifle was a utility gun. I don't know how well looked after it was, it was all full of grit and grim. The action has 90% of the original bluing gone, the barrel and mag tube has 90% or more bluing remaining. Hair line crack on foregrip, missing front barrel band. The rifle was run over in the 40s I believe. Buttstock destroyed and probably used as firewood. I'm not sure of who repaired the broken lever either my Grandfather, his brothers or my Great Grandfather. The lever was broken mid loop of the trigger guard. A replacement loop was made and brazed on. A nice lump of brazing was added on to engage the trigger safety. The finger lever went from being a 3 finger loop to a 4 finger loop! There is a replacement stock my Grandpa had picked up for it. Maybe have the Curved rifle butt plate somewhere.
Last question:
3) What do you think I ought to do? I kinda would like to have a 38-55, maybe find a jenky parts gun somewhere I could salvage a tube from and stock... the 32 maybe isn't even worth the effort of fixing up... maybe it is... maybe it's just scrap metal. Obviously joking, I felt the collectors all cringe. Figured I'd throw this out to the collective realm of the CGN and see what aggregate knowledge and experience comes back. Now you know the rest of the story. Thanks folks!
I tear down both rifles. Inspect the parts. Identify the problems. Carrier on 38-55 had binded from missing carrier screw, carrier from 32 ws placed in. Secondary carrier screw inserted as far as could go, thread damage, inserted deep enough for function testing and no damage to carrier would be obtained from cycling. No hammer sear spring, again obtain from other rifle.
38-55 comes alive with the correct period parts. Or at least the action. It has no magazine or stock or sights, small problems at this time.
So then comes the horror, I discover the small hairline crack on the inside corner of the tang. Well F. I hate 32 ws, it's just not on the shelf anymore and consistently been off the shelf for 10 years and I do shop around.
Being this is a project for my Dad I show him the 38-55 working and then the crack on the 32 ws. Well he likes the 32ws better because it's got the octagon barrel. So he says whatever, can't put the magazine tube from the 24" 32 on the 26" 38-55 without putting a new hole for the plug screw. Someone would notice that when you sell it... so just put the 32 ws octagon barrel on the 38-55. Ugh...
1) Headspacing?
Correct me if I'm wrong here. Yes, you can just unscrew a 1894 barrel from one and put it on another in theory. If all 1894s had the threads cut starting at the same position, say 12'o-clock, a person would have no problem taking one off and putting another on. If threads were cut in that manner, if they were a minute or even 5, 8, 10 seconds apart that would create headspacing issues. If you had a receiver at 12:01, and a barrel at 11:59 there would be issues. There would also be issues with a hexagonal barrel too, you would only really want that sucker mili seconds out of relative square to the receiver.
My general thoughts in this were to examine the rifles and then just find parts to get the two guns running. I never inspected the barrels... maybe they a ruined from modern and original neglect from being stored where ever with no care in the world. The 32 was given to my Dad from his father in law who he didn't care for, 38 was just something a relative gave him, so it has no sentimental value to him either way. I didn't think I had any sentimental placement on the 32 until he said just put the barrel on the 38, or maybe I was choked he suggested that and the comments about not being able to swap parts then sell.
The 32 has been moved safe to safe for 30 years... maybe it will continue that way for the next 30 years, project only got steam when boredom happened and I wanted to check them out.
I won't be sending the rifles for a gunsmith to swap barrels.
I would send the 32 for tig welding the crack on the receiver and to have it straightened out. So that leads me to the second point and question.
2) Tig welding and straightening a bent and cracked receiver on a 200,000s serial number. Has anyone had this repair done? Do any gunsmiths have experience doing that? The lower Tang on the 32 is toast, bent and cracked. A new one could be got. The top screw holes on both 1894s also seem to be reamed out a little. Maybe the broken Tang could be used somehow to rectify that with some tigging...
The last thing that comes here now, the rest of the story. The 1894 32 ws was purchased new by my Great Grandfather. They lived in poverty in a small shack in the sticks of Manitoba. The rifle was a utility gun. I don't know how well looked after it was, it was all full of grit and grim. The action has 90% of the original bluing gone, the barrel and mag tube has 90% or more bluing remaining. Hair line crack on foregrip, missing front barrel band. The rifle was run over in the 40s I believe. Buttstock destroyed and probably used as firewood. I'm not sure of who repaired the broken lever either my Grandfather, his brothers or my Great Grandfather. The lever was broken mid loop of the trigger guard. A replacement loop was made and brazed on. A nice lump of brazing was added on to engage the trigger safety. The finger lever went from being a 3 finger loop to a 4 finger loop! There is a replacement stock my Grandpa had picked up for it. Maybe have the Curved rifle butt plate somewhere.
Last question:
3) What do you think I ought to do? I kinda would like to have a 38-55, maybe find a jenky parts gun somewhere I could salvage a tube from and stock... the 32 maybe isn't even worth the effort of fixing up... maybe it is... maybe it's just scrap metal. Obviously joking, I felt the collectors all cringe. Figured I'd throw this out to the collective realm of the CGN and see what aggregate knowledge and experience comes back. Now you know the rest of the story. Thanks folks!
