Winchester 94 pre vs post 1964

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Max-4

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I was wondering what the main differences in the Winchester 1894/94 would be between the pre 1964 and the post 1964. Would there be a big difference in accuracy and function or was it all aesthetics?

What happened exactly in 1964 to make the Winchester 94 suffer? Is this saying that the post 64 guns are garbage or lesser rifles?
 
Max-4 said:
I was wondering what the main differences in the Winchester 1894/94 would be between the pre 1964 and the post 1964. Would there be a big difference in accuracy and function or was it all aesthetics?

What happened exactly in 1964 to make the Winchester 94 suffer? Is this saying that the post 64 guns are garbage or lesser rifles?
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In 1964 Winchester was overhauled due to the fact that they were not making much money. Most of their models were too labour intensive and some of their designs were really costly to produce. The backbone of the lineup were the model 94, model 70 and the model 12 shotgun, these guns all had a great reputation built over years of field use. The 94 was changed from machined internal parts to stamped and the receiver was no longer finished in the famous Winchester blue, it was plated which flaked off. It actually rattled when shaken!!
The famous model 70 was changed from a claw extractor controlled round feed to a push feed(cheaper),stocks were redesigned with hideous impressed checkering and free floated barrels with an unsightly gap between barrel and forend.
The beautifully machined model 12 was discontinued all together.
By the late 70's things at Winchester were looking up and the guns had improved immensely. Personally I don't see a thing wrong with the newer offerings but they did have a very bad spell in the sixties and early seventies. Just pick up two 94's, one 1950's manufacture and one from the late 60's or 70's, it's not hard to pick the one you'd rather own.
This is what happens when you let accountants and beancounters run a great gun company. That's my two cents.
 
"...make the Winchester 94 suffer..." Suffering is in the eye of the buyer. Machined vs stamped and some non-essential plastic parts makes no difference to accuracy.
The same guys who whine about post-64 M94's will rave about Rugers. Ruger built their business using investment cast parts.
 
sunray said:
"...make the Winchester 94 suffer..." Suffering is in the eye of the buyer. Machined vs stamped and some non-essential plastic parts makes no difference to accuracy.
The same guys who whine about post-64 M94's will rave about Rugers. Ruger built their business using investment cast parts.
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It's funny cause it's true.

I've only owned one 1894, a 1951 model. Nice rifle, but I couldn't tell any difference between it and any newer 94 I ever shot.
(With one exception, I've got a great photo of my then girlfriend, now Wife holding it. :evil:)
 
Mike Webb said:
In 1964 Winchester was overhauled due to the fact that they were not making much money. Most of their models were too labour intensive and some of their designs were really costly to produce. The backbone of the lineup were the model 94, model 70 and the model 12 shotgun, these guns all had a great reputation built over years of field use. The 94 was changed from machined internal parts to stamped and the receiver was no longer finished in the famous Winchester blue, it was plated which flaked off. It actually rattled when shaken!!
The famous model 70 was changed from a claw extractor controlled round feed to a push feed(cheaper),stocks were redesigned with hideous impressed checkering and free floated barrels with an unsightly gap between barrel and forend.
The beautifully machined model 12 was discontinued all together.
By the late 70's things at Winchester were looking up and the guns had improved immensely. Personally I don't see a thing wrong with the newer offerings but they did have a very bad spell in the sixties and early seventies. Just pick up two 94's, one 1950's manufacture and one from the late 60's or 70's, it's not hard to pick the one you'd rather own.
This is what happens when you let accountants and beancounters run a great gun company. That's my two cents.
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So can I say a Win 94 made in 1978 would be better than one from 1968? Both post 64's but your post is saying the guns were much improved by the late 70's. Reason im asking is I like my guns to be brand new or as close to brand new as possible when I get em, that way if I dent, scratch or bang the rifle it was my fault and I can live with that. It is really hard to find a "mint" condition pre-64 Winchester 94 in 30-30 but I have seen a few post 64's, late 70's to be exact.
 
It's not hard, it just depends who you get it from. When I bought mine, it had no scratches or dents, but still looked 'old'. If you buy it from a farmer, it's gonna have some use. But if you buy it from one of your once a year deer hunters, chances are it's in pretty good shape. And there's lot's of those guys out there, but chances are very few on this site. Check your local auctions, papers and gun shops. As dark as it sounds, alot of guys who bought their rifles new are starting to drop off. You just might luck out.
 
sunray said:
"...make the Winchester 94 suffer..." Suffering is in the eye of the buyer. Machined vs stamped and some non-essential plastic parts makes no difference to accuracy.
The same guys who whine about post-64 M94's will rave about Rugers. Ruger built their business using investment cast parts.
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Stamped parts are not the evil...it's how badly they where done.

The bur on the stamped cartridge lifter on the 1966 win 94 I have tells me they seldom changed tools in their press.

It's the black painted one on the right, and on the left is a pre 64 milled ver.

100_3414PS2CrSm.jpg


100_3407PS6CrSm.jpg


100_3406PS5CrSm.jpg


100_3405PS4CrSm.jpg


Yah they could have done so much better IMHO.
 
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Max-4 - I understand your desire to have that 'new, fresh and minty' feeling. Always nice to break them in yourself.

If that's your main concern however, you're probably going to have a hard time finding a pristine one made damn close to half a century ago. Your likely choice (absent getting one from that "little old lady who only went deer hunting after church" - no quoting of game laws, please) is going to boil down to a visibly used pre-64 or a new(er) post-64.

Quality shows. I have my eye on three well-used Winnies - a .38-40 1892, a .45-90 1886 and a .38-55 1894. Just let that rich uncle blink once - the old guys still deserve to get out of the city once in a while. And two of them have lost so much finish that they're practically 'in the white'.

Get one that feels good in the dark and, if finish is that important, get your local gunsmith to reblue it.
 
Calum: WOW, I had no idea it was that bad, you can see an enormous difference in the quality of those two parts! Well my search begins for an excellent condition pre-64 Winchester 94 30-30. Wish me luck!!!
 
Max-4 said:
Calum: WOW, I had no idea it was that bad, you can see an enormous difference in the quality of those two parts! Well my search begins for an excellent condition pre-64 Winchester 94 30-30. Wish me luck!!!
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In reality, it wont make a difference.

I own a post-64, and it has never failed me. Ever. With all sorts of different ammo. Its as accurate as you could expect a gun with that sort of sights, and the nature of the cartridge, to be.

It shoots. It cycles. It has no problems.
 
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blasted_saber said:
In reality, it likely wont make a difference.

I own a post-64, and it has never failed me. Ever. With all sorts of different ammo. Its as accurate as you could expect a gun with that sort of sights, and the nature of the cartridge, to be.

It shoots. It cycles. It has no problems.
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Yup ! I own three of them (post 64s that is). Never a problem except they seem to spawn in my safe.
 
I own a 1967 and never had a single issue, I got it brand new 5 months ago (never been fired) and put a box of ammo through her, she sings like a bee, no issues what so ever!
 
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