"Updating" Win. 1894

[jd45]

Happy Thanksgiving to all! A friend of mine has one his wife bought for him about 22 years ago, making the date of manufacture about 1984 or so. The reason I put quote marks around the word is that I'm wondering what might be done to it to give it the good stuff the pre-64's had, & if you think it'd be worth the effort & expense. Just curious.......Thanx for the feedback, JD45

[old geezer]

The reason the pre 64 is so sought after lies in the composition of the metal in the reciever.  They went cheap, and the guns really suffered for many years.  Sometime in the 80's, they went back to the original metal, and maybe your's fits in there.  Then in about 86 or so, they started with the Lawyer safties.

There is not much you can do to upgrade if you're fits into either the early metal problems, or after the safeties come along.  I'm sure someone a lot more knowledge than I will come along and explain it better, or maybe even show how far off I am.

[armory414]

I agree.  You just can't improve a cheap receiver.  By the time you do, you might as well just get a Pre-64 gun.

I don't know if they are still available, but for a while Numrich was selling kits--1/2 octagon barrels and forends, with the magazine tube, etc.  Basically everything forward of the receiver.  They were around $275, about the price of another gun.

[Modoc ED]

BOY!!!!!!!  When the first runs of the post 64 Model 94s came out they were awful.  However, around serial numer 3,400,000 (1970-1971) things started to improve and shortly thereafter Winchester stopped using stamped parts, tightened tolerances and went to all machined parts.  Right at serial number 5,200,000 things really got better as that is when the Angel Eject came out and all Model 94s were made of all steel parts.

If as you say, your friend's Model 94 was made in 1984 then I am pretty sure it is an Angle Eject.  If so, it is all steel and really isn't too bad a rifle.  I'd say if you cleaned it thoroughly and if the barrel is in good shape, your friend has a good serviceable hunting, plinking, etc. rifle that should last him for his lifetime.