Winchester 1894 Carbine question

Noel

Noel

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Was there a particular year when Winchester started putting saddle rings on their carbines?

I am looking at one this weekend with a 20" barrel in 30 WCF, the seller says it never had a ring or a stud for that matter.... and he also said they did not add the ring until later years, this one being built 1900. I am in no position to say either way but am curious if he is right.

I looked around some tonight but am not coming up with much on this. Maybe someone here can help me out. Rifle has the carbine butt and ladder sight.

Thanks!
 
well... I'd have to call BS on the saddle ring being added "years later". I'm no expert on Winchesters, but the saddle ring carbine was vital when riding around in the saddle and having your Winchester in the scabbard. The ring was what prevented the rifle from flying out of the scabbard..just my thoughts
 
I ran into a similiar example a couple weeks ago and cleaned it up for a friend, it was in every way the same as a SRC except no ring. I believe these are referred to as Eastern carbines? The one I handled was a early BC Police issue curently still serving for the BC MOE. I recall my Dad was issued one of these when they were first removed from storage in Victoria and issued to the CO's in BC, the one he recieved was minty but I was not savvy enough at that age to identify it as anything other than a pre 64, so don't know if it was the same as the example I saw the other day.
 
stefK said:
well... I'd have to call BS on the saddle ring being added "years later". I'm no expert on Winchesters, but the saddle ring carbine was vital when riding around in the saddle and having your Winchester in the scabbard. The ring was what prevented the rifle from flying out of the scabbard..just my thoughts
Click to expand...

I tend to agree but at the same time I do not have enough experience to say. Out of respect for the seller who has twice the years on this planet and seemed pretty knowledgeable it is best for me to not question it.

Mike you may be onto something there, now you mention the eastern carbine that sparks a memory of hearing that before.

Appreciate the help.
 
The one I handled a few weeks back had the carbine stocks, the rear site had been replaced with a later site but was not correct as the dovetail sits further back on the ladder site which placed the later site to far back against the base of the reciever, the front site was correct to a carbine, there was nothing to accomodate a saddle ring.
 
I've got a five digit serial number 1894 here with no saddle ring and the serial number to
this ole gal goes back to 1895.
I have an 1892 in 44-40 with an age of 1910 and no ring on it.
Both these rifles have not had a ring on them.
No wear marks to where a ring would rub.
Looky.
 
stefK said:
well... I'd have to call BS on the saddle ring being added "years later". I'm no expert on Winchesters, but the saddle ring carbine was vital when riding around in the saddle and having your Winchester in the scabbard. The ring was what prevented the rifle from flying out of the scabbard..just my thoughts
Click to expand...

Actually the ring was used with a leather strap to hang from the saddle horn or a clip which attaced to one of the the small saddle rings, had nothing to do with the scabbard, the rifle hung in the breeze, a carry over from early cavalry carbines.
 
If I can, I'll check my Madis book on the Winchesters. I seem to recall that the SRC came out in around 1920 and was discontinued in the late 30's, but this is off the top of my head. Most SRC's that I have seen had the "gum" wood stocks, sheet steel buttplate that curved over the heel, the carbine ladder type sights and had the stud and ring, if they weren't taken off.
 
You could get a 94 carbine with or without a saddle ring throughout production until the 1930's when they were discontinued. They were called the "eastern carbine" by some when they had no saddle ring. I have seen a few 1894 rifles, both short and long barrelled, that were ordered with saddle rings.
 
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The saddle rings were an early option. you could in days gone by order a saddle ring installed for a pittance like $1.50 extra. They were installed early on in production as the early american military used them to hold the rifle " at ready" on a leather strap hung on the right shoulder. I have a 1894 30 wcf SRC dated 1908 and a SRC dated 1909 in 38-55.
 
Winn Toy: Close, but I think the military carry was bandoleer style with the strap over the left shoulder and crossing the body to the right side where the rifle hung. I have seen pictures that showed the muzzle of the rifle (carbine) inserted in a short leather boot (tube) that attached to the saddle. Have also seen the muzzle inserted through the stirrup strap leathers. The object appeared to be to ensure that the rifle went with the soldier when he dismounted.
 
I think that no matter how the ring was originally used, it was very early in production that they could be installed. Many different ideas of thier use, but a bonus to the enthused gatherer. I have seen them installed on rifles also.
 
Well that was a waste.

Sooooo..... I am still Winchester deprived. Why folks cannot be honest about gun condition makes me wonder at times.

The "carbine" had a cresent butt plate, red flare right there and a 3/4 mag tube. It did have the carbine sight but the rating of excellent was a pipe dream with alot of use of the pipe. Receiver deeply pitted, stocks sanded
1/8" undersize and still showing gouges. The Nickel receiver had an almost salmon hue to it like someone tried to reblue it. Didn't bother to measure the barrel length as I knew the second it came out I'd been had.f:P:

He brought along a old Marlin that wasn't too bad other than the screws so buggered I doubt they could be removed. At this point I was totally shut off to the idea of buying anything and politely said have a nice day.

If I ever get offered a lever gun that is what the seller says it is I don't know what I'll do with myself. Sorry, just a bit bummed out!

........NEXT! :onCrack:
 
I 2000, bought at Le Baron in Montreal a Trapper in 357 magnum 94 AE and it have the saddle ring , brand new... JP.
 
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