model 94....MADE IN 1894....whats it worth?? [ pictures added]

[45-70.gov]

this  is  a model 94
according to the serial number it was made  in  1894

half  magazine
32 ??  not  30-30
barrel is blue...in  good shape
receiver  has most of blueing  gone but  otherwise  fair
action  is  smooth  and  fuctional   i  ''think'' a rebarrel  but don't know

i  don't want this  moved to  the classified  for saying  this
as  a ma trying  to deternine value at this point

BUT  I  BELEIVE HE WANTS  TO  SELL  IT  SOON

[45-70.gov]

i  just bought  this  gun  !!


some   one tell  me what  i  have

[Graybeard]

If it's original and in good shape I sure dunno what it's worth but I'd bet well over $2000. How much over you'd need someone knowledgeable of such rifles to tell you.

[Mikey]

I always thought the 1894 introduced the 30-30 or the 30WCF and later came out in the 32 for those who still wanted to shoot black powder cartridges rather than the new smokeless....

[Graybeard]

The first step in determing value should be a letter from the factory to establish that it is what it should be. If it isn't then value would be greatly reduced but by how much I have no clue. I'm no Winchester historian so am not sure what came first or when.

[45-70.gov]

The first step in determing value should be a letter from the factory to establish that it is what it should be. If it isn't then value would be greatly reduced but by how much I have no clue. I'm no Winchester historian so am not sure what came first or when.

any  links  to  request  this info
i  will see what i can find  too

also  it is  a  take down  model
24 nich barrel    half  magazine

[Graybeard]

I don't tho I'm sure someone will. I think but am not sure that the Cody Museum in WY is the source of them for both Colt and Winchester these days. As I said I'm not sure of that it just seems that in the back recesses of my mind I recall reading that somewhere.

[Rangr44]

Inquiring minds need to know - Is the ".32 ?" a .32 Special or a .32-40 ?

.

[mechanic]

Inquiring minds need to know - Is the ".32 ?" a .32 Special or a .32-40 ?

.

Or a 32-20?

[45-70.gov]

32  winchester special

picked up  a box  today

not  planning on  shooting
just  cant  have a gun without bullets

got  offered   $700  today
he  gave  me his  card  incase  i changed my  mind

the bore  cleaned  up  nice
was  told  it appears to be  rebarreled and restocked  too
thought  it  looked  too  good to  be  115 years  old

[LONGTOM]

Unless this gun was not manufactured in 1894 I think what it says, is not what you have.
What is the serial #?

According to my books the 32 Winchester Special was not introduced in the model 94 until the year 1902 as a smokeless load.
I think you will find that yours is chambered in 32-40 loaded for black powder.
The 32-40 was introduced in 1884.
Either that or like I said it was not manufactured in 1894.

I believe you need to have this gun checked by a gunsmith and or a certified Winchester collector.
I also think you should contact the CODY MUSEUM and obtain a factory letter.
That used to cost $100.00 but don't know if that has changed.
It has been a long time since I had one done.
Your gun has many features that if factory would drive the price up considerably.
The 1/2 mag and take down model is most desirable although the rebarrel and restock would really hurt the value.
The rebarrel also makes me suspect that 32 special was not the factory chambering on this gun.

Check it out thourally and let us know what you have.


LONGTOM
   

[45-70.gov]

first attempt at  posting  photos

[torpedoman]

32  winchester special

picked up  a box  today

not  planning on  shooting
just  cant  have a gun without bullets

got  offered   $700  today
he  gave  me his  card  incase  i changed my  mind

the bore  cleaned  up  nice
was  told  it appears to be  rebarreled and restocked  too
thought  it  looked  too  good to  be  115 years  old

If rebarreled and restocked he gave you a good offer.

[LONGTOM]

After seeing these pics I am not so sure the butt stock has been replaced.
It is clear that the forearm does not match as is the condition of the bluing on the barrel.
This is another good indication that it is not the right barrel for this gun.
The sling swivels don't help none either.
I hate to say this but it appears to be a poor attempt to make a gun into something it wasn't.
I am sure it would still be a usable gun, but not much collector interest unless someone had a period barrel in either 30-30 or 32-40 that matched up a lot better both in bluing condition and in wood finish.
I would have to agree with torpedoman, he made you a very good offer.
Maybe he is still interested.
I think I would be giving him a call.


LONGTOM 

[Graybeard]

After looking at it I agree. $700 was a good offer. Clearly has major alterations to it that decrease any collector value it otherwise would have. I'd take the $700 and run.

[Rangr44]

[Or a 32-20?]

Mechanic - FWIW, The rifle in the OP is a long-action Model 1894/94, which was never issued in the .32-20 chambering like the short-action Winchester Model 1892/92 was.

45-70.gov - Evidently the $700 offer is more than you just paid for the rifle, but if I wanted a nice hunting rifle, I would keep that one.

It has enough gennie features, that it could always be sold for at least that in the future, if it came to that.

.

[45-70.gov]

Unless this gun was not manufactured in 1894 I think what it says, is not what you have.
What is the serial #?

According to my books the 32 Winchester Special was not introduced in the model 94 until the year 1902 as a smokeless load.
I think you will find that yours is chambered in 32-40 loaded for black powder.
The 32-40 was introduced in 1884.
Either that or like I said it was not manufactured in 1894.

I believe you need to have this gun checked by a gunsmith and or a certified Winchester collector.
I also think you should contact the CODY MUSEUM and obtain a factory letter.
That used to cost $100.00 but don't know if that has changed.
It has been a long time since I had one done.
Your gun has many features that if factory would drive the price up considerably.
The 1/2 mag and take down model is most desirable although the rebarrel and restock would really hurt the value.
The rebarrel also makes me suspect that 32 special was not the factory chambering on this gun.

Check it out thourally and let us know what you have.


LONGTOM
   

====================================
.32 Winchester Special
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
.32 Winchester Special

.32 Winchester Special in 165 Grain Hornady FTX (Left) and 170 Grain Remington SP (Right)
Type Rifle
Place of origin  United States
Production history
Designer Winchester
Designed 1895
Specifications
Case type Rimmed, bottleneck
Bullet diameter .321 in (8.2 mm)
Neck diameter .343 in (8.7 mm)
Shoulder diameter .401 in (10.2
The .32 Winchester Special (or .32 WS) is a rimmed cartridge created in 1895 for use in the Winchester Model 94 lever-action rifle.[2] It is similar in name but unrelated to the .32-20 Winchester cartridge (which is also known as .32 WCF).

it  still might  be an  original  barrel?

[45-70.gov]

just  re-read

32  came  out  in  1895
gun  serial number  says  it  made  in  94


has  to  be re-barrel  or  bad information

[LONGTOM]

The 32 special may well have been developed in 1895 but according to my book (THE WINCHESTER HANDBOOK by MADIS) it was not chambered in a model 94 until 1902.
One of my other books say 1904.
I have not read in any of my Win books where it was chambered any earlier in a model 94.


LONGTOM

[P.A. Myers]

Read what 'Cartriges of the World' has to say about the 32 special. Really funny. For some unknown reason 32s were very popular in mexico.

[Mikey]

Wait a minute.  That rifle is a 'take-down' version, which makes it a 'great buy' regardless of caliber and the entire front end of that rifle, barrel, tube and forestock could easily have come from another 'period' rifle.  You could probaly shop around e-bay for another front end in 30wcf caliber and have a real 'find' with two front end set-ups.

My 1927 made 30wcf looks very much like your rifle, except for the take down feature and my fore stock and rear stock are about a 'dirty-ed up' and stained as yours, but should clean up very, very nicely with a soft solution of Murphy's Oil Soap and wa-wa........

And, although I have taken my old one out into the woods a time or two I now leave that 'woods-walkin' to my 30wcf descendant, a 1975 made 30-30 with the prettiest stock factory wood I have ever seen.  In fact, I need to shoot that thing more.  I think I'll ask my buddy to load up some thuty-thutys for me so I can shoot the thing and have fun.......

[LONGTOM]

EBAY no longer will sell barrels on their site.
Or anything that will make a gun fire.
Maybe small parts and stocks, that's about all.

Finding a front end would be luck and would cost as much or more than the gun itself.
Nothing wrong with looking for one though.
In the mean time I would have it checked by a gunsmith and if in good, safe shooting shape use it as is and enjoy it.
It is a great caliber!


MERRY CHRISTmas!!!


LONGTOM

[mannyrock]

     Since this rifle has been rebarrelled and restocked, it has virtually ZERO collectors value, even if somehow it was made in 1894.   The purpose of a Cody Letter is to confimr for antique collectors, from the original factory records, the year of manufacture, place of manufacture, to whom first shipped, and the major features of the rifle (caliber, barrel, special stock etc.).

     Since your rifle has no collectors value, paying the $100 plus for a Cody Letter would be a total waste of money.  It will only serve to confirm that your rifle is altered and has no collectors value.

   If it is fairly good shape, with no functional problems, then it would be worth about $700, probably to a Cowboy Shooting enthusiast.

  Hope this helps.

Mannyrock
       

[NickSS]

If your rifle was made in 1894 it was made from soft steel and probably originally chambered for either 32-40 or 38-55.  Winchester introduced the 30-30 round in 1895 and put nickel steel barrels on that model.  They cost a bit more than the same rifle make for black powder cartridges due to the different steels used.  The 32 Specisl cartridge was not introduced until sometime after 1900 the exact date varies from 1905 to 1907.  Around the same time they also came out with the 25-35 cartridge.  If your rifle is chambered for 32 special it definately was done after the turn of the century and along with the rebarrel job and the scope mount you have a nice shooter but not a collectors piece.  I myself have a rifle that was made in 1913 that is a short rifle with a half round half octagon barrel in 36-55.  It was factory drilled for the sheet metal receiver sight that lyman made way back then but the sight is missing.  The only thing wrong with this rifle is that it was reblued at one time.  This knocked about half its collectors value off of it.  But I love to shoot it as it is unbelievably light and handy.

[45-70.gov]

i  just  ordered  the cody letter  yesterday

form the serial number  she  guessed  1895
said those web-sights  aren't  that reliable

will  update in a few  weeks

[yooper77]

I didn’t know Winchester made a takedown model 94, my father in-law has a takedown model 55 in 30 (30-30 Winchester) W.C.F. with a 24 inch barrel.

It’s unfortunate that this rifle has been drilled and tapped.  I don’t feel this rifle would hold a $700 value.

Yes this is true, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is completely unreliable unless you actually know the subject and are able to confirm its accuracy.  Wikipedia is editable by anyone who has access to the internet.

yooper77

[LONGTOM]

i  just  ordered  the cody letter  yesterday

form the serial number  she  guessed  1895
said those web-sights  aren't  that reliable

will  update in a few  weeks

You never did give us the serial # to check against the books.
If she said it was 1895 then it most likely was but the 32 special still wasn't chambered in a model 94 until 1902 or later according to 5 different Winchester books that I have.

If she told you that it was 1895 did she tell you if it was chambered for the 32 special?
If it was made in 95 than the serial # would have to be under 44,360.
Year 1895 starting # was 14,760 with a total production that year of 29,599 end of year serial # was 44,359.

Wish you had a good pic of the barrel markings.
Does the barrel markings include the words Model 1894 or Model 94 anywhere on it?
This may help in determining when the barrel was made.
On the barrel, does the words NICKLE or NICKLE STEEL appear anywhere?

Here are some barrel markings.
Tell us if yours matches one of these.

( 1 ) 
                      -MANUFACTURED BY THE-
 -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.-  


( 2 )
    MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO.
            -NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PAT. AUG. 21. 1894-


( 3 )
              -MODEL 94-WINCHESTER-NICKLE STEEL-
                                 -TRADE MARK-


( 4 )
        MADE IN U.S.A. WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO.
              --------------NEW HAVEN CONN.---------------


( 5 )
                         NICKLE STEEL BARREL
                ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER


( 6 )
       MADE IN NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S. OF AMERICA  WINCHESTER-
                                     MODEL 94-32W.C.F.-
       ----------WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL---------TRADE MARK-


( 7 )
                  WINCHESTER
                    -TRADE  MARK-
                   -MADE IN U.S.A.-


( 8 )
                   MODEL 94--32 SPECIAL
                  -WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL-


Let me know which one your barrel matches.


I was just re-reading a book called THE WINCHESTER HANDBOOK by GEORGE MADIS who is considered one of the foremost authorities on WINCHESTER rifles.
He clearly states that the 32 special was not chambered until 1902.



LONGTOM