Winchester Lever Action Development: Model 1894
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- The Winchester 1894 has become one of the most manufactured and most popular sporting rifles in American history, and it owes this success to a combination of factors. Mechanically, the 1894 was a continued improvement on John Browning's already-excellent 1892 model. It was strong and simple to operate, offering both speed and power. The cartridge that cannot be separated form the history of the Winchester 94 is the .30-30 Winchester, aka the .30 WCF (Winchester Center Fire).
While the .30-30 shared a naming convention with the many black powder rounds that were in use (a .30 caliber bullet over 30 grains of powder), this new round was a smokeless powder cartridge. As such, it offered a very significant increase in velocity over everything else that was then available (just shy of 2000 fps). The cartridge was well suited for taking nearly any North American game, and the package of the 94 and the .30-30 made an outstanding general purpose weapon for a huge swath of the American market.
By 1927, one million had been manufactured (the millionth one was presented to President Coolidge), and by 2006 production had exceeded 7 million. This truly is the iconic American deer and ranch rifle - so ubiquitous that its remarkable quality has set a new standard for the entire industry.
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"So, what made this rifle so popular? Well, it was a John Browning design..."
Ehhh that might be too much of a simplification. I doubt many people knew who John browning even was until much later in the 20th century. Browning made a good design but it was winchesters marketing and scale of production that enabled the model 94 to be made cheaply enough that a broad amount of people could afford to buy it. I mean look at winchesters competitors. Marlin had the first commercially successful 45-70 a full five years before Winchester. But it was the Winchester 86 that sold more units, despite Marlins rifle being arguably as strong as the 86 and smoother to operate. Marlin didn’t have the scale to beat out Winchester or the marketing. Bullard made a fantastic lever action in 45-70 but it was more expensive than the 86 and came out in the same year. Couple that with the fact Bullard was a much smaller company and didn’t have the marketing that Winchester had, and it doesn’t sell well enough to keep Bullard afloat till he is bought out by Winchester.
Reliable and strong like the majority of his designs most of the American classics are browning designs which is incredible.
Don't attribute everything to John Browning.. They are all modified versions of his falling block which he modified from European falling blocks . He and his TEAM added the sliding bolt and the lever w/ sliding cam surface to operate everything .
Who? Never heard of the guy 😂
My 90 year old grandfather gave me a model 94 from 1912 for Christmas that hes owned since the 40s. It is my most prized possession.
God bless my dad gave me his made in 1944 its stunning its my hunting rifle,I wasn't ever going to shoot it but he told he thats what it was made for.
Don’t ever sell it
Im never selling it. If I was homeless id sleep in the ditch with it.
Today my father said hes giving me my grandfather’s im so excited
My grandfather’s 94 (1950 manufacture) is my go-to deer rifle. My brother initially had it, but his wife is very anti-gun, so he gave it to me.
"If this pin isn't depressed, the trigger will not pull."
Damn it, the rifle won't fire! Hey, pin, did it ever occur to you that all life is is just a slow march to the grave?
Fuck, now I'M depressed. Thanks guy.
That's not the way to do it! You gotta scream at it and tell the pin that its a piece of shit and it'll never amount to anything even if you scraped it and used it for a more modern gun. Works all the time for me! (FYI don't do this, care, RESPECT, and LOVE is what these classy cannons need nowadays)
This may be the least forgotten weapon ever featured on your channel
Mauser 98, AK-47, AR-15 and MG42? x)
This may be but it is the culmination to a series so there is that. (Did he, the Gun Jesus™, need a break from obscure weapons profiling?)
@@hjorturerlend M1911
@@hjorturerlend he hasnt covered the MG42 yet, actually
edit: nvm glory to the buzzsaw
@@hjorturerlend it should also be mentioned that this gun is recognizable internationally, every Latin American home used to have a .30-30 Winchester carabine, basically.
The rifle arrived today and I dialed in the scope just a couple hours ago ruclips.net/user/postUgkxQt2uORDRfFOVSrO4idv4B90ThT6EOnEL . I haven’t shot with a scope in probably 25 years. The X on the left was my target. (the shot almost in the bullseye on the right X was my father in laws first shot after I made adjustments) The two shots circled are my first 2 shots. Then I brought it down - shot once. Then brought it over to the left. From there zeroed it in to dead center. This all was from 25 yards out. Follow instructions carefully when mounting the scope. So far I'm very happy with the purchase.
100 years from now, one of Ian's grandkids will be doing a retrospective series just like this on the AR-15.
You mean things like CZ Brens... Scars, ARX.
And little gun manufactures like Hi Point, Kel Tec
@@JesusChrist8451 I think more realistically we will someday be able to get higher velocities using less propellant in smaller casings.
@@LUR1FAX Yeah. With guns, cars, machines period, the goal while inventing or renovating is to make something put in twice as much work with as little money spent and effort possible.
@@JesusChrist8451 I have a picture of Obi Wan (Ep. 2) framed up and on my mantle to see how many people think he's Jesus. Hahaha! Love the picture man.
Hey guys thanks for tuning into another video on AncientWeapons.com Im Ian Jr. and today we will be looking at the AR-15 rifle this rifle is generally known as being the most popular civilian rifle in the United States for the latter half of the 20th century and the entire 21st century as well as serving in the U.S. military and militaries around the world for all that time under designations of M16, M4 and M416.
How many here have one of these? Drop a like if you've got one.
Boomerisadog how about two of them plus an old Marlin
I have a 94. Model 1959. #2 million something
I inherited a model 84 from my papa. Made in 1909. I’m working on restoring it for my son one day.
Yes, I have one from the late 70's.
32 SPL Wrangler here - Never shot.
I have a 94 in .44 Rem Mag. It is late US production, and a wonderful gun. It is a Trapper model with a 16" barrel and a saddle ring. I just love it.
Today I was finally able to get my great grandfather's 94 back. It had been stolen almost 10 years prior. I can't express what it means to get my family heirloom back. I especially can't be happier that it's a Winchester 94.
I personally believe that nearly everyone should have a model 94. It is a beautiful, refined, and fun rifle.
157RANDOM I just inherited my dad’s 30-30 Winchester ‘94. A true treasure.
My favorite rifle
I got mine from my grnadpa, I haven't shot it yet but it looks hella brand new and the serial numbers say it was made in 1916.
@@sanemountain2129 That's awesome. Mine is a 1975 production so a lot newer, with the post-1964 drop in quality. The bluing is not holding up so well.
i have a bb winchester
"Assuming you watched the last two videos"
Ian knows his audience well!
My dad gave me his Winchester 94 centennial 66. He bought it new and only fired 1 box of ammo in it. When he gave it to me, he told me to shoot a deer with it. I clipped a single point bungee sling to the saddle ring and went to the woods. I did shoot a deer on her second outing. Her name is "goldilocks" and I love that gun. And my dad. Happy Fathers Day!
Kingwiththeax My friend and I bought the carbine and rifle at a gun show. He took the carbine cause he's short and me being tall I took the rifle. My main .30-30 was being used by my sister this year. I used my centennial 66, let me tell you, walking through the woods with that shiny gold and octagonal barrel just takes you back. Took a doe at 100 yards, enjoy that rifle.
Sorry for the dumb question, how did they measure projectile speed back in those days?
Maybe you should make a special episode on where you explain 1800's technologies and manufacturing techniques 👍
see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_chronograph
I think the most common method used in the late 19th century used a pair of spinning paper wheels, these were on a common axis spinning at a known rate. The gun being tested would fire a bullet parallel to the axis of rotation. You'd measure the difference between the two holes to see how far the wheels had rotated, then use a bit of math and the wheels' known rotation speed to figure out the bullet velocity.
@@WalkaCrookedLine That is an ingenious idea! I'm glad you shared it.
All you gotta do is handle and shoot one of these little iconic rascals and you're smitten. Even the 1964 thru 2006 models are still awesome. The handiness of these little rifles almost rivals the ease and ergos as an AR15.
25-35 was the first smokeless powder gun offered by winchester. the 30 wcf came out 4 months later.
One gun I really wish I had bought was a model 94 with a 4 digit serial number and the 26" octagon barrel. For $295 back in the '90s. They don't make 'em like that any more.
Oh god... ouch 😫
Would you do a series on the Marlin rifles? I really an curious.
Everyone says 30-30 is a deer rifle. Well where I live here in Canada the 30-30 has been taking Moose since its inception. I personally dont own a 30-30. My 94 is 32 Win special it has taken moose as well, not by me however but by my father and great uncle.
30-30 was super popular in Alaska too. Not so much anymore, more because people prefer more modern designs than anything else.
james ranger same here in Quebec !
Here in east Tennessee a deer or bear is as big as the game gets. I wouldn't hesitate to take either with my 30/30.
30-30 all around great Canadian rifle. Hunting in BC many 30-30's seen use in the bush on all sorts of game
Ditto for my model 94; chambered in 32 special. My dad's first deer rifle, bought new circa 1955. The one gun of mine I would be first to run out the door with of the house was on fire.
Thanks Ian for the Henry/Winchester lever gun evolution. Fantastic history lesson. I've known all of those rifles, but never gave much thought into their evolutions, until now. Thanks again!!!! History is such a wonderful and fascinating journey, isn't it!?!?
My late father used the 32 Win special with a 20" barrel. He killed Grizzly, black bear, moose, elk and many, many, deer with his Winch lever. He was deadly with that rifle and I have never seen anyone who was as proficient as he was with that rifle...Faster than a bolt action since the cocking motion only takes two moves instead of 4 with a bolt action.. Light, handy, lethal, affordable, accurate enough for the range it was intended, a true American rifle that deserves it's place with honors in the firearm collection...
Mine was made just a little over 2,000,000 rifles later.
A wonderful series, loved the history brought to life, thanks!
My friend has an 1894 that he inherited from his grandfather. The markings say that it was made in St Etienne (we live in Europe). Was the done under license or was it just imported and marked as French for legal reasons?
St Etienne resold Winchesters, so it was almost certainly marked with their name for resale, but made in Connecticut.
It's not only for deer hunting, but I have pointed mine at an insurance salesman that WOULD NOT LEAVE MY HOUSE WHEN ASKED!!......He never came back
Nice one
Outstanding video. Very informative and exciting. The Winchester model 94 is the greatest rifle ever manufactured.
In 1894 it might've been the best and I love mine but best ever is a bit of a stretch. It's a great little carbine but my ar10 in 6.5 creedmoor is better in every way.
Can you do a similar series on the Marlin guns?
Grant Kleinpeter i second that
third
I have a model '94 25-35, that was formerly my grandfather's. Great rifle. Just too pricey to shoot much anymore, unfortunately.
Me too! Killed my first buck with it when I was 15 (1974), my dad also killed his first buck with it when he was a kid. Grandpa hunted with it for years before giving to dad. Still got it in my gun safe along with five boxes of shells. Yeah, can you even find 25-35 shells anymore?
Cough cough, 55$ a 20 round box, newer rubber point tipped made for lever action, Winchester brand runs 70-90$ depending. Hard to find, not impossible.... Cough, so i hear. *walks off whistling
Comes back randomly*
117 grain!
Runs back off...
Reload.
The M94 was popular with Texas Peace Officers too. It was a big step up from the .44-40.
It was amazing how ingenious the design was all that time ago
The Winchester '94 Model in 25-35 was introduced in 1895.
Well done Mr. King indeed. A simple dam improvement, but it improved it so much. Hell, it might even be the feature that made the rifle practical.
Loving the series. Looking forward to the 1895. Wasn't aware of the locking lug differences, etc from the 1892. Very well thought out. Great video as always. Thank you
Ian, I have enjoyed this series immensely. Is there any chance you could do a follow-up on Marlin lever actions designed throughout the same era, then compare and contract them to the Winchesters you've are going through now?
Any chance we might see something for the Winchester 1887/1901?
Eventually, yes, but not in this series.
Well damn, wicked fast reply, and thank you!
holy hell I have a model 94 manufactured in 1897, it's so amazing to see something I own being reviewed by Ian.
They're safe to shoot right? I see one at a gun store but they're unknowledable and suggest it might not be safe to shoot. Dont see a reason why the antiques are unsafe
@@MrJerry160 Yes, they are safe to shoot, Just keep em clean and don't use hot ammo in it to prevent wear
@@fieryfive0127 what is this " HOT AMMO ? "
@@nicolainicolaev3153 Hot ammunition is higher pressure loads often designed to get the max performance out of a cartridge, in this case those higher velocities and the higher chamber pressure would wear out the gun faster. If you want to see what Hot Ammunition can do look up Ian's Video on Turkish surplus 8mm Mauser
@@fieryfive0127 Thank you
Coffee and guns, good morning America.
Coffee,guns,God on the front porch with my pop is my favorite pastime
Thanks Ian, another superb series. The '94's close to my heart (well, actually 4ft away in a locked cabinet in case the firearms guys are watching), mine's a modern version in .357 mag - but still great to shoot here in the UK.
"forgotten" weapons shows the most popular deer rifle ever
Great job Ian. How about a comparison of a 2006 manufactured gun to a 1906 manufactured gun
Forgot to mention the .25-35wcf the 30-30 wasn't the only smokeless round in a 94
The "most popular certerfire rifle every made in USA" 0:47, .... and it's a "Forgotten Weapon" ? Methinks Ian may be reaching the bottom of the barrel of 'forgottenness' ;-).
PS.
In '67, I bought two, brand new, Centenial commemeratives, still in their UNopened boxes! Consecutive serial #s
Ian, isn't the 1894 "improved" lever system somehow also bringing back some problems by allowing potentially more junk and gunk to get into the gun, since the opened area below the gun is much bigger than in the earlier version of the lever mechanism?
Yeah, I've always noted when you throw the lever on the '94, all the guts come falling out of the bottom of the receiver. I've always seen that as disconcerting. Still, if John Moses Browning came up with it, who am I to object.
Really? How many people do you know that have had a 1894 fail because “junk and gunk” got in the gun when cycling?
Its a hunting rifle. You aren't met to drop it in mud
How did they measure velocity back in 1894?
i guess they put a target at a specific distance from the gun and counted the time it took the bullet since the trigger pull till it hit. But i dont really know.
Papa Cap Interesting question, perhaps Ian will weigh in.
Papa Cap I too would like to do
They hit a suspended target and measured the distance the target moved, and since the weight of the target and projectile are known, they can use the amount of movement to calculate the force it hit the target and from the force they calculate the velocity.
they put two paper discs onto axis with some space between, make it spin with define speed, shoot through discs, and than measure shift between holes. Knowing rotation speed and distance between discs, you can calculate bullet velocity.
For decades in Quebec they to hunt Moose with that riffle .... old timer hunter were not that bad in the old days.
I love my 94, I'm on the second one, first was an AE rifle in 357 which was a disappointment, latest one is a 1958 carbine made 30/30 and most of the reciprocating parts were heavily worn but the bore was fine, I guess an armchair cowboy had been cycling it while watching john wayne movies on tv. A new link and lifter spring brought it back to 100% and it's great for all I need it for.
I have one of these that's been passed down in my family. Amazing gun, even now
The most comfortable rifle I have ever fired.
I like Hickok 45's demo's.....
but I also love these videos by RIA.
Good lord! whom ever center punched the barrel boss on that beautiful Deluxe Take-Down rifle should be beaten with a tire iron... o_0 both sets of sights are on the barrel, slight looseness would not effect accuracy at all. OK Ian, I love you too pieces but two things:
(1) The 94 receiver/bolt/locking block system was a near complete redesign of the preceding 86/92 models in order to accommodate a higher pressure mid-length cartridge case. Without the 94's falling floor-plate on it's hinged operating lever and stronger locking block it would not fit, nor work.
(2) What about the other two calibers, the .32 Winchester Special and 25-35 offed at the same time as the 30-30??? I mean if your going to mention the 32-40 and 38-55, why not all the original calibers?
My question is, how did the success of the previous iconic Winchesters overlap with the 94's, since they were pretty much obsolete by the time it came out? Even the '92 sold a million rifles, and it was selling all the way until 1945, but why did people still buy a 92 when a 94 existed? Same with the '73: Why would people buy it even in 1923 when they stopped making them? Was it a slow adoption of the new type of powder? Did they just satisfy the retro market?
Spairus It's usually because the older model is cheaper, and may use cartridges someone already uses for other guns. These were expensive so not everybody could afford to get the new improved model.
My guess was, people just stuck to what they knew. Back then people weren't so eager for the latest and greatest. Nowadays we see technology advancing like crazy so were used to making the change. Something tells me people just had a different mindset back then. And yes the prices were probably lower on the old models.
The video claim the 92 is inferior but I disagree. The 92 actions is slick and more compact and can take pretty heavy duty loads, not everyone needed or wanted a 30-30. I have a modern 92 replica in 44 mag and it can take down deer easily. I also have a 73 and that action is even slicker, if weaker.
Last winter I found a .30 WCF Model 94 in excellent condition with a serial number 4369 mg on 1895. Great rifle. I have three all pre 1964.
I picked up a 4 digit 94 a few years back. Sold it to a friend for 600.00 (hes a good friend lol).
Hope to get a pre 60's the one I have is 70's.
Why did Winchester close in 2006? Not enough sales?
I had one and it was a 25-35.
The 94 is probably a favorite rifle of mine just because I grew up shooting my grandfathers. That being said, I shot a 1892 reproduction action recently and have to admit it is far superior. The 94 has what I like to describe as a 2 stage throw. First stage is when you throw the lever and it unlocks the action, ejecting the round. Then you are stopped and have to put in a bit of extra effort to get it to lock open and lift the next cartridge. While I understand this is a nessecity of the design, it is a far less smooth and refined feeling action compared to the 1892 in my opinion
I shot my grandfather's too. They were so annoying
Thb the 1886/1892 was far better so was the 1895 , ill own a 1894 but i really dont like the action
Great vid! I own a '94 and learned some new things about it here, awesome rifle.
First gun was a model 94 pre 64 25-35
I saw a 100th Anniversary Model 94 in Iraq in 2003. It had gold inlay, a small gold commemorative plaque from Winchester (if I remember correctly, it was a presentation piece to a senior Ba'ath Party member), and was in a felt lined leather case with a sword cane and a riding crop with a concealed dagger in it. Those rifles definitely got around. If you count the Miroku-made guns as actual Winchester and not a name-only reboot of the brand, then the design is still in circulation.
Wish we could see a picture of it in country!
Hey ian, i have a 94 in 32-40 from the first 2 months of production. What should I do with it?
Keep it or if you need the funds auction 😉
Damn, it looks like 12 more hours till the 1895 video. I can't wait! I've already seen his other 1895 video!
I'm getting my australian gun license and I shall be taking saint browning into my life with his winchester 30-30
May the gun jesus and saint browning blessed you
The 35 Remington was probably a better lever gun cartridge.
I enjoy all of your videos but your lever action series is so good it inspired me to support your channel on Patreon.
Thanks!
Question: is the difference in round and octagonal barrels only cosmetic? Thanks for the series, very interesting!
Octagonal barrels are a little bit beefier -- there's more metal so they're a bit stiffer and therefore more accurate, but they're also a bit heavier. They also heat up a bit slower when fired rapidly, and I'd guess it's easier to mount different sights. And I just like the look of the octagonal barrel so much more.
It's also cheaper and easier to make. To make a round barrel you have to first make a octagonal barrel then turn it down to a round barrel.
Whereas I mostly agree with your assessment of the the improvements provided with the Winchester designs as they changed through time, I have to disagree with the improvements of the 94 over the 92. For me the 92 will be a much more elegant design for a pistol caliber rifle than the 94. Yes, with the availability of new smokeless powder rounds that necessitated design changes, the twin locking locking lugs of the 86 and 92 are to me and elegant design solution that was lost with the introduction of the 94 Winchester, in my humble opinion.
Thanks for the great and informative video. I just purchased my first pre '64 '94!
Keep up the great content Ian. Nice to see a firearms channel that goes into details about development and implementation of different weapons from history.
Just inherited my father's 1952 model 94. Loved that small, noisy rifle as a boy and look forward to taking it out for another hunt in the future.
Picked up my 1899 model 94, in .38-55 a week ago, so excited to see what she can do
Where did you manage to find.38-55 ammo?
I have a 26in model with an octagonal barel and an original tang sight in 30wcf, made in 1899. Same configuration as the one my dad has made in 1911. Like father like son I guess 👍
do a side vid or Xtra on pre 64' please... oh great gun guru.
It sure would be nice to know how many rifles were made of each caliber
I don't believe anybody really knows that information. I have searched for years to find out how many model 94s we're produced in 357 Magnum
A great deal of Winchester's Records were lost by the company when switching over from ledger books to index cards. Oh also some records were lost in a fire too I think.
I had one in .32 Winchester special
I just bought a 30-30 Saddle Ring Carbine 94 made in 1898. :-) sn 136xxx
last week a bought model 1894, 30 wcf (nickel steel), barrel octogonale, number 141xxx. But i don't know when it was made ?
@@olego5443 Mine is still in layaway. It was not cheep.
@@FingerAngle I paid 1300 doll. canadien( about 1000 US). How much you paid /
@@olego5443 1200 usd
@@olego5443 Funny story. I went in to make a payment and get a giant torque wrench out of lay away. Evidently I missed a payment on the carbine and it went back out on the floor, but the price had dropped from 1200 to 800. So I used my refunded payment to put it Back in lay away. I actually saved $300! hahahaha So I'm getting it for 800 plus a hundred I lost, $900!
My dad left me his Winchester Model 94-30 WCF with a "W" stamp on it, so I know it's from the late 1930s/early 40s
These guns don't get enough credit for the accuracy people call them 100 yard guns but I have a full series of of model 94s all pre 64 and they have all taken game far beyond 100 yards some close to 200 with proper tang mount marble peep sights they are remarkably expensive sights but they are in my opinion the most superior of any open sight on the planet
I’ve got one,I just received it on my 14th birthday,it’s been passed down many generations and one day I will pass it down to my son or daughter.
my 1894 still has the original blueing. got it from my grandfather he got it from his father far as iam told.
Same for me although not much blueing left on mine. Being used by four generations of ranchers even with the best care and maintenence you will still lose the bluing.
I have so enjoyed this videos. You did just a wonderful job and you're fun to listen to!
And lastly.... to paraphrase what I tell pretty much every waitress in every restaurant.... "Whatever we (in Patreon) are paying you...... it's not enough". Keep up the good work
it is kinda sad that one of the previous owners peened seem on the the take-down rifle. i seems like a very hard thing to reverse.
I wonder why they did that? Seems a shame.
I bought one of these recently for 289 bucks chambered in 30-30 with a scope and sling. From what I can tell it was a new haven made one but the scope is made in japan. It’s my first John browning designer gun.
I inherited my great great grandfathers '94 manufactured in Salt Lake City in 1898. It has an octagonal barrel but no lever on the end, and the stock doesn't have the pistol grip part, it's just straight. It was broken in half right in front of the buttstock and then silver soldered back together by my great grandfather, so I'm wondering if when he fixed it he went to town on the stock and rasped off that pistol grip.
Ian, unless I just missed it in the video, do your know how much Winchester paid for the patent on this one? whatever it was, they probably got a bargain.
Mine is a ,32 WS that's 111 years old. Father got it from a rancher in the late 50s when parts of L.A. County in CA were still nice places to live in with plenty of open spaces and lots of hunting. Anywayyyyyys...my father had it blued after he got it. The wood on it is shiny and beautiful, like it was polished recently. So it looks incredibly new! It was the very first rifle that I ever shot when I was 15 or 16. I only shot it once after my brother shot it, and I wasn't thrilled. That was a bad experience because it felt like I was being forced to shoot. I remember looking at it in my parents' closet as a child and looking at the cartridges for it like they were toys. It was always fascinating to look at the ammo and the gun. I knew even as a child that I dare not touch it. But it was always on a shelf and out of reach. I always thought that the Army gave him that rifle after he served as a paratrooper. I guess I thought that way because I would see his military clothes and other related paraphernalia near the rifle. After moving to another house, it was like it never existed. It was something that I hadn't even thought about because it was hidden away for a long time. Only a few years ago did I find out that he bought it in the late 50s after he did his service. After he left for a while for business, I looked underneath his bed and found it. I liked the feel of it and told him on the phone about it. He then gave it to me after I mentioned it. I was a little surprised but elated. I found out he had given it to a friend but then got it back after my mother got angry about it. I'm very fortunate to have received it. I shot it for the second time in my life a few years ago in the desert after having first shot it back in 1981-82. It seemed too powerful and scary to me at that time, so I never cared about shooting. I got the shooting bug a few years ago, and that's when I rediscovered the rifle and received it shorty afterwards. Shooting it several times a few years ago was really a pleasure. I was able to hit a small steel target about 300 yards away several times. It is amazingly accurate and easy to shoot. I was surprised by how little recoil it had compared to my shotgun. I stocked up on thousands of rounds of ammo for it several years ago because the ammo was so hard to find. It's one of my home defense guns, but I have more suitable guns for that. Nevertheless, it's something that might come in handy during a situation that I never imagined.
I have a ~1901 'Sporting Rifle' with a 26" barrel. Its a *beast*
I know the 30-30 is the popular choice for these, but I've come to prefer the 32 Winchester Special for them. It's a necked up 30-30 which can either match 30-30 at a slightly lower pressure (like most factory ammo is today for it) or slightly out perform it when loaded to the same pressure. It's kind of a forgotten cartridge, but well worth looking into if that's your sort of thing. I do have to say though, the 94 action isn't so much of an improvement over the 86 or 92 as it is an attempt to create a middle ground based around the cartridges like 32-40, 38-55, and eventually 30-30. I'm pretty sure the idea was to make a rifle that was as close in size to the 92 while being able to feed those longer cartridges like 32-40. I like to think of it as taking a 92 action and re-working it to give a longer bolt travel, so it can feed longer cartridges. It's not any stronger than a 92 and some would argue that it's actually slightly weaker due to the lug being all the way at the back of the bolt rather than 2/3s back. Of course that says more about how overbuilt the 92 is, as the 94 is still more than adequate for the cartridges it was designed for. I do question those 94 'big bore' models that Winchester made a while back, I think they reinforced the action in the wrong place. Instead of thickening the area around the locking bolt only, they probably should have thickened up the receiver along where the bolt travels as well, to prevent receiver stretching that is a common problem with rear-locking actions. It seems to me that's what Winchester had to do when the 1895 was introduced, as the first model was slab-sided and prone to stretching, so they reinforced the receiver along the area where the bolt travels and actually scalloped out the bottom half to try and save some weight. I know, I'm a lever action nerd, but I love the things.
I've got one of these beauties in .44-40 Winchester. It's a 1977 Winchester Commemorative Cheyenne Carbine. Only 10,000 made and only sold in Canada. It had already been shot before when I acquired it so I shoot it as well, and it's great to take to the range.
Oddly enough, the 94 is my least favorite Winchester. My fav is between the 76 (especially in .50-95) and the 71. If only .348 Win was around nowadays.
I bought a 94 from K-Mart years ago for $139.
I've killed a handful of deer with the 94 in 30-30. I bet the number of deer killed with that rifle far exceeds even the millions of rifles produced.
do a mud test the French used the 1894 in WW1
Brasstard 7.62 He already did the '95 which is a relatively similar design
Hughes Enterprises 15,000 1894s were used by the French army
Hughes Enterprises it's still a little different and Ian loving French things needs to mud test it
@@brasstard7.627 do u know why the winchesters or at least the lever action system wasnt adopted by the US and European military?
@@juanzulu2755 Somebody did a video on the French WWI 1894s. May have been Ian or maybe Hickok45. According to that vid the French didn't consider them durable enough for front line use so they were issued to support troops behind the lines and mail carriers. If I understand it correctly the US Army came to the same conclusions although privately purchased lever actions were used in the civil war.
As someone Japanese living in America and owning guns, I do love my modern sporting ARs and pistols, but I really, really want a lever action something fierce. I know all about Miroku. But I like the refinements Taylor's & Co. Does to other lever guns too.
Luckily I have a model 1894 made in 1897 in the carbine model and still fires beautifully.
Curiosity, my Winchester 94 serial number 1.465,xxxish,so I guess late 1940s, never looked up the serial number, cool. Thanks,have great week.
I own a few hunting rifles with scopes, detachable mags, etc, but I have to admit, for walking around the woods, nothing beats an 94 Winchester with iron sights. Light enough to not need a sling, accurate enough for inside of 100yds, and delivers more energy at 100yds than a 44magnum revolver at the muzzle.
I want to go shoot my 94 again now lol
I have a 94 in 38-55. It's an old timer. My dad bought it back in the early 60's and it was an old gun then.
Inherited a 94 carbine take-down model in .32WS from my wife's uncle, serial #'s put it about 1920 mfr. Last shot it about 20yrs ago, shot great. Tightened up the lever mechanism about 10yrs ago. Gunsmith valued it at $1800
I've owned two, both newer production. My .30-30 was deemed necessary for continued cocaine use by a burglar, while my .45 Colt was given to my father-in-law for him helping out financially when I was waiting to ship out for the Army. I've since gotten that back.
Incidentally, the used gun department at my job bought a large lot of guns including an early Model 1892 in .38 WCF. The serial number is in the 50000 range and it appears to be 1894 production. Finish is not the best but we paid $50 for it and I plan to buy it for under $200 next week. Also have an 1899 production Model 1897 Riot gun I'll probably get for under $500, an M1 Carbine with an Owens telescoping stock for $350, and a chromed M1886 Steyr that seems to be Chipean contract and I'm thinking was a parade rifle at one point. So, yeah, I'll be $1000+ poorer next week.
Mine was built in 1951. My first center fire rifle. 23 white tail deer, 3 mule deer, 4 black bears, assorted coyotes, crows, hogs, and general varmints too numerous to keep track of and one Buick! It won't drive tacks any more but it will still reliably hit the vitals of anything I'm likely to shoot at and it still feels better than a post '64!
I have a 1934 Model 70 in 7mm Mauser that is on its third barrel, that I know of, and a gorgeous Colt-Sauer that a gunsmith and I chambered for "8mmX06" (8mm Mauser bullets in a 30-06 case) that replaced it as my primary hunting rifles but the old "thutty-thutty" is the one rifle I will never part with. I have even joked with my friends that they should load my ashes in 30-30 rounds and shoot my remains in some of my favorite places then throw the gun in my favorite duck swamp!
I don't know why I didn't see your comment a year ago, rainmechanic, but I see it now and have to reply. I have no heirs because I contracted the mumps. Given the fact that I have no heirs; i figure the best I can do is to return my carcass and my possessions to the environment. "Circle of life".
pete sampson A Buick? I have to hear this story.
My slug barreled 870 has a Ford Bronco on it.
Years ago when I was in high school, a buddy and me were out whitetail hunting, and after a few hours got turned around lost our bearings. The sun was going down, and we were heading back to where we were parked outside of the woods, but we were still pretty deep in the brush, or so we thought. I spotted a nice doe, and was a little too quick on her and missed. That 1oz slug passed through the brush, somehow missed all the trees, and found itself in the engine block of my buddy’s Bronco, right through the radiator. 😑
It took a few hours and plenty of cursing before we finally got out of there and back home.
looking forward to the 97..and hopefully you will do the 93 and 97 shotguns..really good series
I have done the 93 and 97 already...
yes..but your doing so awesome with this set..if would be a shame not to complete the john browning collection..lol
Add them to the playlist then! or to the lever gun playlist :P easier to find stuff that way!