Winchester 94, question about production post 1964

Polar_Hunter

Polar_Hunter

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According to Wikipedia,,,,,,,, "In 1964, to save money on production costs, Winchester ceased machining certain small parts for the Model 94. The new cartridge lifter was made of stamped sheet metal instead of being machined out of solid steel, and hollow roll pins were used in the action instead of solid steel pins.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, "Winchester would undo many of these short cuts in 1992, after modern CNC methods of automated production made many of the originally-machined parts affordable to produce once more. This, however, proved insufficient to sway public opinion. Many users would only use rifles made before 1964 (pre '64).,[7] and Winchester firearms made before 1964 command a markedly higher resale value on the gun market to this day."

A buddy of mine has a 94 with what looks to be a machined cartridge lifter but according to the serial number it was made in 1971 :confused:

Were the newer versions stamped from flat steel or were they possibly sintered steel? Were the rifles made in different factories after 64,,, some with stamped parts and others with machined parts?

He wants to sell the gun so getting the proper education about it is important.
 
Winchester did revert back to some pre-64-type parts in some models after a few years. But regardless - it's a post 64 model and nothing is going to change that.
 
BirdCity said:
Is there any chance the cartridge lifter is not original to the rifle?
Click to expand...

This. If you order replacement parts they are the machined parts not the sheet metal and roll pin parts. Personally I have never had a problem with the sheet metal lifter. When you think about it makes the rifle marginally lighter for hunting.
 
Like jethunter says, it's a post 64 and nothing will change that. A machined lifter isn't going to make a lick of difference to its value.
 
In the '70s they realized their mistakes, but then made some more booboos. My 1976 Model 94 was made with nice machined parts, ie; the lifter and etc, but my receiver won't stay blued worth $#!t.
Other than that it's my most accurate and handy rifle. Take an eye out at 50 yds. I'm using a Williams receiver mounted peep.
 
Out of curiosity, are all the pre '64 parts perfectly interchangeable with post '64 ones (and vice versa)?

I have a '94 that was made in '67: I've put 1000's through it and it's never once balked on me or given me any problems. I doubt a cartridge lifter or roll pin, etc, would fail under normal circumstances, but if a repair was needed could the superior pre '64 parts just drop in as replacements?

Maybe pristine pre '64 guns command a premium, but I see enough of them with crummy stocks and zero finish for sale at great prices. If the internals are good then it sounds like a great boneyard if good parts are needed.
 
The parts are not strictly interchangeable. Some might interchange, but I don't have a list of which ones will or won't. Comparing my pre '64 to my brother's '72, the spring that drives the hammer is different, and was changed again in the '90's, the firing pin is different, the cartridge guides are screwed in from the inside on mine, and from the outside on by brother's, and many of the screws seem to be a different size as well.
 
The stamped sheet metal cartridge lifter didn't last very long, 65-69 I think. It was a source of a great deal of feeding problems and was changed up to what appears to be a cast pot metal lifter around 1970. The new lifter although better was still prone to breakage if a cartridge didn't sit just right or a handload was a touch long. It's this newer cast pot metal lifter that I suspect you are seeing, and not a true machined steel lifter as in the pre 64s. There were many small changes in 1965 to the Mod 94 and many small and large parts are not interchangeable. It was a much greater cheapening than just going to a couple stamped parts and hollow roll pins. Most of the cheapening bugs were worked out in the late 60s and many rifles made from 1970 and on have given excellent service without a hiccup, however the post 64 stigma lives on. Which is fine with me it just keeps driving the value of my 70 some odd pre 64s up and up. LOL
 
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