Pre vs Post 64 Model 94's

Basically it was a business decision based on costs. They changed how they made them in order to reduce costs of production. Usually stamped stuff.

Here is an except from Chuck Hawks:

Winchester Pre '64 Model 94 Classic Gun Review

By Chuck Hawks

Surely among the most beloved firearms of all time are the Winchester pre 1964 Model 94 carbines. These graceful little rifles are a study in functional walnut and steel. With nearly perfect lines and balance, they became the best selling sporting rifles of all time.

Unfortunately, by 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. This is exactly the fate that befell the classic Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine, and eventually spelled its doom.

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.

Most of the shortcomings of the post 1963 Model 94s were eventually corrected, but the pre '64 versions remain the most desirable of all Winchester Model 94s.
Click to expand...
 
Neat pics on the subject info...

I had a link to a great site showing the differences, but it seems to be dead now. :(

http://leverguns.sixgunner.com/post.asp?method=TopicQuote&TOPIC_ID=29280&FORUM_ID=2

But I recently discovered that I had saved the pics. :)
Also I found a link to them at the poster photo site.

In the interest of education on this subject here it is...

http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o121/RellimJ/Photo Essay Pre-Post Win 94/

Also of note:
win94serialdata2.jpg
 
I've got a 999,### serial number '94 from 1927, just short of the 1,000,000 number.
 
My 1894 is a 66 but I hope I can still hang out with you folks as I have been replacing internal parts with pre 64 parts. :D
 
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The years with most of the trouble are from '64 to some time late in 1971.

The stamped parts most obvious are the cartridge lifter, and the back sight.
The cartridge lifter can be trouble, but, I understand you can retrofit the heavy machined lifter, and solve the feeding issues.
A friend with one, his is early 1971, that has the feeding issues, along with a broken firing pin, and had to rebuild the cartridge stop.
My late 1971, with the machined lifter, has never had a single issue, despite firing many many more rounds than his.
My 1949 model is also trouble free, as was my 1910 before I parted with it.
 
Pre 64 all the way.... Better wood, better finish, Milled parts. The feel of a mint pre 64 vs a mint post is like comparing smooth/oil to rusted/dry. Never saw an improvement on a post 64 I liked…

Pete
 
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My hunting buddy has a 94 from 77 as well and he's been using it since the 80's and taken a ton of deer with it. Nothing wrong with those 94's.

I can't seem to find or buy anything later than 1919. Of the last five 94's I have bought, they were all between 1900-1904....it was weird....
 
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