Taking guns apart to clean

I completely disassemble firearms when first purchased, whether new or used to thoroughly inspect and clean. I also do this roughly once a year on all my firearms. I 100% disagree with the "maintenance should be performed only when required" train of thought. Preventive maintenance is best... especially on something that can explode in your face.

Cheers.
 
Here is another old Model 94, This one in 32-40, serial number 850210, indicating 1919 date of manufacture, that has never been taken apart. Again, every screw is in place, without a mark on any of them. Notice the usually roughed up tang screw is in perfect condition, meaning the screw has never been removed.
We are not talking dollar value on these two Winchesters, as each is a family keeper, but just showing them to show that old Winchesters that have never been taken apart are not that uncommon.
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You see a lot of "HELP!!" threads on here from people who have torn a gun completely down(unnecessarily) and are stumped when it comes to reassembly. Even the old levers I just open the action over a pile of newspapers and blast a healthy amount of Crudcutter or similar product downward into the action. Removes several decades of fir needles, golden rod seeds, lint and owl dung. Without a great deal of time wasted or perhaps damage to the rifle.
 
Many folks find the '94 intimidating. It's really not that hard. However, if reasonable care and cleanliness are respected, you shouldn't need to.
Then again, one of the guys at our camp presented me with a '94 that was very stiff to operate. It was filled with years of gum, and repeated attempts to free it without disassembly had failed.
So, then and there, in the hunt camp, I took it apart, and scraped the rails until they were free. The difference was amazing. These older rifles are smooth as a baby's butt.

If you want a challenge, move to the Winchester 88, or the Winchester 86. The 88 requires "slave pins" to tear down and re-assemble properly. The 86, just has a lot of parts. For those two I'd recomend having a manual, or at least a parts diagram.
The Browning lever guns are also "fun". :d Your best to not even think about it, unless you are mechanically inclined, and have the manual.
 
Mike Webb said:
You see a lot of "HELP!!" threads on here from people who have torn a gun completely down(unnecessarily) and are stumped when it comes to reassembly. Even the old levers I just open the action over a pile of newspapers and blast a healthy amount of Crudcutter or similar product downward into the action. Removes several decades of fir needles, golden rod seeds, lint and owl dung. Without a great deal of time wasted or perhaps damage to the rifle.
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Yes, and to those people who insist on taking everything apart, the worst sound they could hear, must be when they are working on a little spring, deep in its innards, and hear a "pling, then a little click, somewhere in the room!"
 
I have an old Cooey 64B that I have owned since I was a tad. I shoot it til it stovepipes one. Half a can of Brake Klean later it's running like a clock again.
I've never even taken it out of the stock. I open the action and hose er down. Blow it out with some air and hit er with a bit of sewing machine oil.
Good to go for another decade lol.
 
I wonder if everybody on here knows the certain, no doubt and instant method, to see if a Model 94 Winchester is pre 1964 or was it made after 1964?
 
The extractor channels are different, the shape of the receiver and the absence of a a link pin stop screw are ways to tell from the outside. I see no reason to approach a tear down of an 1894 with any feelings of trepidation though. They are interesting firearms, yet fairly simple machines. A tidy work bench, proper tools and a smidgen of gray matter will get you through it. That said I agree, the frequency some if not most folks clean is a bit excessive.
 
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H4831 said:
I wonder if everybody on here knows the certain, no doubt and instant method, to see if a Model 94 Winchester is pre 1964 or was it made after 1964?
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Size and position of the action screws are different; pre' 64 on top, post '64 on the bottom.

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nw mb said:
...guess i'm the only one who scrubs the begeebers outa my irons...

G:

ocpdx2
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Nah, you aren't the only one... I tear everything apart to clean/oil, new or used. I like to see how it all goes together, and also to verify everything is in good order...no stripped screws, no missing or broken internal pieces, etc.
 
I tear everything apart to clean/oil, new or used. I like to see how it all goes together, and also to verify everything is in good order...no stripped screws, no missing or broken internal pieces, etc.
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Yes exactly! This is one of the most fun things to do. Prefer older firearms so finding out how they work and cleaning them is the best part! :)
 
Quite some time ago now, when working on a M-94 from the early 20's I made a startling discovery; the parts from modern rifles of the same brand and model aren't compatible with earlier rifles. In some cases parts have changed size, thread pitch, or have been eliminated altogether. Brownells has a gunsmithing book that provides descriptions and measurements for some old timers, and sometimes, parts can be made from these drawings, if your quest for acquiring the part you lost has failed. Don't even think about disassembling an out of production gun unless it can be done in a bare,well lit, clean room, that's painted white so dropped screws, pins, and springs can be seen immediately.
 
Boomer said:
Don't even think about disassembling an out of production gun unless it can be done in a bare,well lit, clean room, that's painted white so dropped screws, pins, and springs can be seen immediately.
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We must have different lifestyles.. not only do I not have such a room, but I don't think I've ever seen one in the wild or in captivity!
I have to admit, I like the concept though, if not the limited probability of ever having a space like that to work in.

I can relate to the horror of having a tiny spring depart from the immediate vicinity in a "normal" room though. There's invariably some creative swearing, usually muted, because the only thing worse than crawling around the floor looking for the dam* thing yourself is having well-meaning "help".
 
I have a strong magnetic broom (Lee Valley) for such lost pieces. Bought it to sweep the yard of our last house as the prior assclown burnt a deck with nails and all right in the driveway.
Works great for finding parts on my floor...
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=65301&cat=1,43456,43465
 
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