Lever Safety Question on Model 94

Dennis

Dennis

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On a Winchester 94 you squeeze the Lever/Grip to depress a safety pin that enables a cocked gun to be fired. If you elect not to fire & relax the squeeze on the lever/grip, should the depressed pin pop back out automatically resetting that safety. The pin is spring loaded.

Anyone able to shed some expertise on this?
 
It should pop back out when pressure on the lever is relaxed.

It isn't a pin - it is a projection on a spring loaded lever that pivots in the lower tang. It is a trigger block mechanism that prevents the trigger from being pulled unless the lever is held against the lower tang.
 
Thank you. Yes, its a projection exactly as you describe. I've had my gun apart trying to make it pop back out better than it does. I note that if it doesn't pop out & I slightly push the lever to the side it makes the projection show as proud as it should. Any thoughts?
 
9.3mauser may be onto something, here. This sounds more like an alignment problem. When you move the finger lever. Is it always in the same direction, that works?
Examine the projection on the lever. Are there any burrs, or scratches on it to indicate contact with the slot in the lower tang? As suggested, some gentle stoning and polishing of the lever projection may correct the problem. Does the projection(pin, if you like), line up squarely in its slot in the lower tang? If not, the safety lever is misaligned slightly...likely at a bit of an angle...,also causing it to bind. May only require loosening the screw and realigning the lever safety and spring. It is also possible that the projection is bent a bit. Or, the entire safety lever. Checking it on a flat surface will soon tell the tale. While you're at it, I'd also examine the pin holding the lever safety in place. Is it bent slightly? This might also cause the lever to catch a bit. The little bit of vibration from moving the finger lever may be enough to get it moving again. Hope some of this helps. Please do let us know how you make out.
 
Another thought: I would still replace the lever safety spring. The rifle may have been acting up like this its entire life. But, when it was new, the fresh new safety spring could exert enough force on the lever to overcome inertia, and force it to move downward. Now that the rifle has a few more years on it; the spring is also starting to show its age. It may no longer produce enough tension to reliably overcome the resistance from the sticky lever.
 
Appreciate the input. I've had it apart a few times & will do so again but this time feeling I have a few sets of eyes with me. I'll report back. Dennis
 
Correction: Some of the 94's lever safety springs (wire spring) are held in place by a screw. Those above the 400,000 serial number range. Post-'64 springs(Plus some of the older models, if memory serves) featured a flat spring design with two legs. One for the trigger sear. The other for the lever safety bar. This type is held in place by a single cross pin, that holds both the lever safety and spring, in place. You'll be able to see in a glance, which type of spring you have. Regardless of design, check to make sure the spring is making full contact with the top of the lever safety.

Note: Some '94 parts will vary a bit in design, according to serial number range. Including springs. When ordering a new spring(if needed), be sure to include this in the order information.
 
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Have you owned this rifle from new, if not it may have had some Cowboy'in adjustments made to that component, especially if it is in a handgun caliber (sometimes even on rifle caliber rifles that the owner wants to use in Cowboy Sillywett match's) . All of those rifles from the factory have a spring in them that requires a "death grip" force on the lever to de-activate the trigger block...and that just won't do for a match rifle for most people so we change the factory spring out and replace with a Pioneer Gunworks offering that reduces the pressure required to an " effortless, you don't feel the lever moving the trigger block at all" condition. It will not push the lever back down from a totally closed position at all unless the lever retention pressure is also adjusted/reduced...its not supposed too.
 
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