Winchester 1894 Disassembly Problem

[Wellse]

I have a Model 1894 rifle that I've owned for a year or two now, I'd like to disassemble it for a thorough cleaning. I've watched a couple videos through, and read a few breakdowns on various sites. It's something that I'm fully comfortable with, and have the appropriate tools to complete. The hiccup I'm encountering is this, when I remove the "finger lever pin stop screw" the "finger lever pin" is not fully lined up in the hole, as such I've not been able to get the rifle disassembled. It also has me wondering if the bolt is coming forward enough to completely lock in the breach, and so I've never shot this rifle. If anybody has any insight to what I may be overlooking? I'll include some photos for clarification.
Thanks in advance.

It's tough to see but the pin is too far towards the butt of the rifle, it needs to come further forward.

 

[sean69]

Pop out the link pin first, you will be able to push the bolt forward with the lever enough. Also that finger lever pin has a chamfir (or should) on it specifically to help with that. - don't put it in backwards/

This is normal for a 92 or 94.

 

[73582]

Try using a pick to center the pin and a punch from the other side to push pin out

 

[fingers284]

It could be just the spring pressure of the extractor holding the bolt back a smidge. try 1/2 cocking the hammer & using a small screw driver pry on the back of the bolt to shift it ahead a bit. If it wont shift enough, somebody has probably changed the locking plates to ones that dont allow enough bolt travel forward. If the bolt wont travel fer enough forward ,your hooped unless you force/drive that pin out. Unfortunatly, this will most definitely bugger the threads in the receiver for the screw.

 

[Potashminer]

There must have been some variation over the years they were made? I do not think that "finger lever pin" is meant to go all the way through the other side of receiver - I suspect that pin lives within the "breech bolt" - that screw is merely a "cap" to hold it from falling out when rifle is closed?

Pictures of a "made-in 1955" that I have here - hole on right side appears much smaller than in your picture above (see my second picture below).





EDIT: - my mistake - I did not realize that you were showing two pictures of your rifle's left side. When I removed that screw and shone flashlight down - I can see front edge /side of that pin (toward muzzle) but can not see rear edge/side of that pin (toward butt).

 

[sean69]

It could be just the spring pressure of the extractor holding the bolt back a smidge.

This is exactly what is happening - without a cartridge the extractor rests/pushes against the extractor cut out in the barrel (pushing the bolt back 1/16 or so), Sometimes you can just push the bolt forward a little with your thumb,but the extractor is pretty strong.

I do not think that "finger lever pin" is meant to go all the way through the other side of receiver - I suspect that pin lives within the "breech bolt" - that screw is merely a "cap" to hold it from falling out when rifle is closed?

It isn't - the pin is captive in the bolt - if you lose that little retaining screw the pin can catch there and lock up the action.


That finger lever pin is not tight - not supposed to be, once you get the bolt pushed forward it may actually just call out. Should not need a hammer - just push it out.

 

[migrant hunter]

I just took one out 5 minutes ago. I got my son to push on the hammer, and I had to smack it pretty hard. Looks like one end is chamfered and one end is flat. I'm guessing mine was in backwards.

 

[sean69]

I just took one out 5 minutes ago. I got my son to push on the hammer, and I had to smack it pretty hard. Looks like one end is chamfered and one end is flat. I'm guessing mine was in backwards.

It goes back in flat end first, chamfir to the left side of the receiver.

 

[Robert Nicholson]

Tagged

 

[Wellse]

Thank you all for the helpful replies!! Looking forward to having another go at this after work this evening. I will update with my results. Something about holding a rifle that's coming up on 120yrs old just feels so right! Really hoping to get this cleaned and inspected and start loading up some rounds for it, with any luck I'll be able to fill a tag with it this fall. Some might think it sacrilegious to carry these old guns in the field, but to me it's a shame that some of them never get to come out anymore. They were made to be used.

 

[Mike Webb]

Personally I never take a 94 apart unless repairs are needed. Just open the action over some newspapers and blast Crudcutter or similar down thru the action and in all the nooks and crannies. Dry and lubricate. Can't tell you how many guns I've seen marred up by un necessary disassembly.

 

[Wellse]

I did get this one all pulled apart, and after seeing the insides I’m glad that I did. The old oil that’s inside has turned very sticky. Full of crud, powder residue, cedar leaves. Needed to tap the firing pin out of the breach bolt because of the grime, magazine tube spring likewise needed some assistance to come out. I feel that if I didn’t disassemble this rifle that it’s function would have been compromised. Also as someone had mentioned earlier the finger lever pin was in fact installed backwards, chamfer was to the inside. Somebody has clearly had this rifle apart before (and didn’t do a great job), a number of the screw heads are marked up from not using the appropriate bits.