Winchester 1894 query

[jclayton]

I have recently come across an old, octagon barreled Winchester '94 in 25-35 calibre. It has no serial number and never did have one. It has not been ground off. Have never encountered this before and can find no information in my collection of gun books.
Has anyone heard of this before?

 

[Kilo Charlie]

No offense intended, but are you looking in the right place? Underside of the receiver forward of the triggerguard?

 

[stocker]

For many years Winchester would only sell to their dealers and wanted them to stick to a certain retail price. At least one of the U.S. mail order catalogues made deals with Winchester retail dealers to purchase large numbers of rifles through them. They had the serial numbers removed and the receivers refinished so the rifles could not be traced back to the dealers who originally supplied them. They then sold them a bit cheaper than most retailers. Perhaps you have one of those.