Venerable Winnie 1894

here is a list up untill 1910!
Winchester 1894/94 Serial Number List
1894 began with serial number 1 and ended with 14,579.

1895 ended with number 44,359.

1896 ended with number 76,464.

1897 ended with 111,453.

1898 ended with number 147,684.

1899 ended with number 183,371.

1900 ended with number 204,427.

1901 ended with number 233,975.

1902 ended with number 273,854.

1903 ended with number 291,506.

1904 ended with number 311,363.

1905 ended with number 337,557.

1906 ended with number 378,878.

1907 ended with number 430,985.

1908 ended with number 474,241.

1909 ended with number 505,831.

1910 ended with number 553,062.

Hope this helped
 
The manufacture date for a Winchester Model 1894 rifle in that serial number range (697XX) would be 1896.

Edit: Oops ... didn't read far enough in the thread to see the listing Death Junky posted - well, at least it's good to know that my source (an on-line dating-by-serial-number site) is reliable!
 
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GrantR said:
The manufacture date for a Winchester Model 1894 rifle in that serial number range (697XX) would be 1896.

Edit: Oops ... didn't read far enough in the thread to see the listing Death Junky posted - well, at least it's good to know that my source (an on-line dating-by-serial-number site) is reliable!
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where did you find your online dating by Serial number sight! I had a hard time finding them hahahaha
 
Best bet to properly identify the date of manufacture is to contact the Cody Firearms Museum who have the Winchester records. For the 1894 models records exist up to serial number 359,999. This can be done through a serial number search or a factory letter which is more expensive. Another place to look would be the Winchester Arms Collectors Association (WACA) website and check out their forum. Find all through Google.

If you do plan to keep and shoot it, slug the barrel to find out groove diameter and size your cast bullets accordingly. This is the usual option unless you start getting into .381 or larger diameter which may prove difficult to chamber. if using jacketed bullets, go with Barnes 255 grain original in .377 diameter (not the .375 diameter as these likely will be too small). Handloading is definitely recommended to get the most enjoyment out of these old leverguns.
 
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The 1894 Winchester was made for smokeless powder. Winchester used the 1886 for testing the smokeless cartridges they had plans for. Both the 86 and the 94 were John Browning designs which used vertical locking lugs and not the previous toggle design.

The 30 WCF, which has come to be known as the 30-30 was made from necking down the original 38-55 case. The 38-55 amunition that's available today is the reverse. Winchester just necks up the 30-30 to accept the 38 cal. The difference in the new ammo is it's a tiny bit shorter and is available at most Gun Stores. The only problem in availability is the ammo makers only run off one lot per year, so when the supply is gone, you have to wait for the next run.

My 1894 Winchester, 38-55, was made in 1899 and it shoots like a hot damn. I've shot real old ammo as well as new and it's a pleasaure to shoot as the kick comes straight back.

I remember, as a kid, my Gramps talking favorably about his 38-55. Him, his Dad and Brothers used it on large deer and even moose. Their other favorite was an 1886 Winchester in 45-90 made in 1889. That was their big medicine of the day, the time before First World War, the time before the reign of the 30-06. Another favorite, they grew to appreciate, was an 1894 Winchester rifle in 30 WCF, made in 1907. They eventually realized the power of a smaller bullet moving faster, but still preferred the 38-55 and the 45-90 over the 30-30.

I've got all three of those rifles in my safe and have shot all three. The 45-90 is a real experience. The 45-90 was considered an express cartridge, in that day, as it was a lenghtened 45-70 with 1 in 32 twist. I've shot smokeless 45-70 rounds in it as well. The 86 is the only black powder Winchester that's safe and strong enough to handle smokeless.

Regards:
Rod
 
Riley's list is not correct.

Case in point - I have a model 1894 Winchester in 30 WCF (30-30) with serial number 346###. According to Riley's list, it was made in 1906. The serial number search from Cody's Winchester records revealed the following:

Win. 1894, SN 346###
Date in: 4-12-1907
Caliber: 30
Barrel: Octagon
Trigger: Plain
Date shipped: 7-11-1907
Order #: 110483

Date in is the date the rifle was received at the Winchester warehouse and is deemed to be the date of manufacture; in this particular case the date is 1907.

Those Winchesters that can be corraborated by factory records with an official factory letter from CFM are considered more valuable for that reason, especially if all original. The factory letter is also good if you plan on restoring the gun to original Winchester factory configuration as received in the Winchester warehouse.
 
John: -- The source that I use dates an 1894, ser # 346### at 1906. This is taken from the Winchester Collector's Society records and the second source is from Ned Schwing.

Winchester would stamp the serial numbers on the receivers when they were made and not when they were built up and assembled. Sometimes the receivers would sit in the parts bin for quite a spell before assembly. Design and components changes would sometimes span a couple of years as they would pull parts at random instead of using up one bin before using the next. This is how the term "Running Changes" occurred. More time can pass until the finished rifle is delivered to the warehouse. Back in those days you could order straight from the warehouse as retail outlets were not that readily available and if there was a General Store that would stock rifles, it could hang around there for awhile as well.

Serial numbers below 350,000 seldom have the WP Winchester proof mark.
Another interesting note is in 1907, an error was somehow made and for a time, around serial 374,000 range, the patent date reads "August 14, 1894", instead of the correct "August 21, 1894" date.

John Browning was granted his patent, US Patent number 524702, on August 21, 1894 and the New Haven Plant had the 1894 on the market by November of 1894 with only two calibers available, the 32-40 and the 38-55, both of which were Winchester developed cartridges dating from 1885 and 1886 respectively. By 1895, Nickel-Steel barrels were being produced and the 25-35 cartridge using smokeless powder was introduced bringing with it the famous 30 WCF. By 1902, the 32 Winchester Special was introduced.

Regards;
Rod
 
Rod said:
John: -- The source that I use dates an 1894, ser # 346### at 1906. This is taken from the Winchester Collector's Society records and the second source is from Ned Schwing.

Winchester would stamp the serial numbers on the receivers when they were made and not when they were built up and assembled. Sometimes the receivers would sit in the parts bin for quite a spell before assembly. Design and components changes would sometimes span a couple of years as they would pull parts at random instead of using up one bin before using the next. This is how the term "Running Changes" occurred. More time can pass until the finished rifle is delivered to the warehouse. Back in those days you could order straight from the warehouse as retail outlets were not that readily available and if there was a General Store that would stock rifles, it could hang around there for awhile as well.

Serial numbers below 350,000 seldom have the WP Winchester proof mark.
Another interesting note is in 1907, an error was somehow made and for a time, around serial 374,000 range, the patent date reads "August 14, 1894", instead of the correct "August 21, 1894" date.

John Browning was granted his patent, US Patent number 524702, on August 21, 1894 and the New Haven Plant had the 1894 on the market by November of 1894 with only two calibers available, the 32-40 and the 38-55, both of which were Winchester developed cartridges dating from 1885 and 1886 respectively. By 1895, Nickel-Steel barrels were being produced and the 25-35 cartridge using smokeless powder was introduced bringing with it the famous 30 WCF. By 1902, the 32 Winchester Special was introduced.

Regards;
Rod
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Wow good job guys! I'm still going to take er to a smith to have an examination! The rifling is strong on mine but the bore is a bit dark... What can i say about a 100+ year old rifle! The weird thing about it is the front sight! It had a flip up and down front! it is either a large ring type sight or a standard striate pin i sadly that has busted off over the years and only the ring type sight remains. I will give you some pics of er the next time I have her out of the gun cabinet!
So my rifle has rare markings on it or something as it is in the 200### range with the WP markings on it?
 
Well, this has proven to be a real wealth of info. All this for an old beat up rifle that has been tampered with. Still kinda cool to play with somethin twice your age that still works eh? Thanks for all of your info. Never thought when I asked the question that there would be more than a couple of replies. But then, thats why the site is named Gunnutz aint it? Damn, now I think I need a 25-20. Crap. Speaking of which, I was told the 1892 was mostly issued in that calibre. Lovely little rifle I must say. A cuz has one in very nice shape and it makes me drool. Keep it coming. Real interesting reading material.
 
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