Author Topic: Converting a model 94 Winchester to a takedown (Read 2046 times)

tatwell · « **on:** August 03, 2003, 02:21:43 AM »

I am looking for an old article that I once heard of, maybe in an NRA gunsmithing book, that detailed how to make a standard model 94 lever action into a takedown model. Various searchs have not been sucessful. If anyone on here has this information I would like to get a copy of it, even better would be if anyone has ever actually done this so I could hear first hand of any problems encountered. Thanks in advance.

Double D · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2003, 06:41:46 AM »

Your right it's in old NRA gunsmithing book. I have a copy. Right now getting my copy is a little difficult it's in storage. Cross your fingers, I'm moving next week.

If you were to wait a week and drop me an email I could scan you a copy of the article.

tatwell · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2003, 07:03:24 AM »

Thanks! I will check with you in a week or so. I would like to have also the complete title when you get moved and settled in, to see if maybe I can locate a personal copy for myself. I have several sources for old books and might find it, if I am lucky. But I will sure appreciate getting a copy of the info in yours. Hopefully I can find someone who has actually done this at some point. Thanks again, and I hope your move is as pleasant as can be expected.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 03, 2003, 08:18:22 PM »

I to would like to see that article if possible... If not the title of the book and article would be nice.. Thanks for your reply!!

Double D · « **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2003, 03:23:34 AM »

Okay guys, remind me in a week or so. I checked my old gunbook sources and no body listed it. I even checked the NRA book store on line. I know i saw it in the museum bookstore last time i stopped by.

tatwell · « **Reply #5 on:** August 04, 2003, 03:54:35 AM »

I did some more searching and found a post by a nice gentleman who gave the following information "The complete how-to is written up in "The NRA Gunsmithing Guide
- Updated" ISBN 935998-47-0. " And believe it or not I found a copy through Alibris, and of course ordered it. IF their info is correct then it is the book in question, the iSBN number matches so I have high hopes that it is the right book. They only had one copy, but if I do in fact get it-should take about 3 weeks- then I will of course be glad to share the info with anyone who wants it. I posted this question on several different sites, and it seems this project is of interest to quite a few of us. I still haven't found anyone who has done it, but I have hopes that I will. I have spent a good bit of time looking into takedown levers and they have been around for a long time, but to my knowledge the only factory one produced in recent times was the 1886 copies of a few years ago. It appears to me that Marlin and Winchester are missing the boat in not offering a factory takedown. Especially when one looks at the older takedowns and considering how manufacturing technologies have progressed it doesn't seem that it would be all that expensive to offer a takedown option.

Double D · « **Reply #6 on:** August 04, 2003, 04:50:33 AM »

I did one of these back inthe 80's it was a big mistake. First guy that saw it at the range wanted it. Offered me ridiculous amount of money, more than I had into the project. I can always make another. Never did. Can't remember much about it except it worked.

I have plans to make one now on a Martini cadet one barrel in .223 Rimmed and one in 7TCU Rimmed.

tatwell · « **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2003, 10:10:50 AM »

Thanks for the feedback. I am going to do it for sure. I have all the info together, except for finding a suitable gun but that shouldnt be a problem. I showed the nra article to a friend who has a lathe and he says it should be quite easily done. I'll let you know how it turns out. To date, you are the only one I have found who actually did this, I am sure a lot have , just cant find them. I can see how your rifle sold , it is a handy thing to have and in demand.

Double D · « **Reply #8 on:** August 08, 2003, 02:50:55 PM »

The move is somewhat done...I found the book, now I cant' find the scanner.

Drop me a PM with a snail mail address and I wll make you copies and end them off.

DD

tatwell · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2003, 05:55:12 AM »

Got the copy you sent today. Thanks again! will let you know how the project works out!

Double D · « **Reply #10 on:** August 13, 2003, 07:38:31 AM »

Hope they work for you. Post some pictures.

ccanevit · « **Reply #11 on:** August 14, 2003, 02:39:19 AM »

I'm curious about what you guys are talking about here. I own a Winchester Model 94 Ranger in 30-30 Win, what exactly do you mean when you say converting it to a takedown?

John Traveler · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2003, 04:27:15 AM »

CCanevit,

In the first half of the 20th century, many gun manufacturers made available popular rifles and shotguns that could be "taken down" to make for easier storeage or shipping.

In a take-down model, the barrel is easily detached from the receiver or action and buttstock.

Usually, this involved some sort of interrupted-thread on the receiver/barrel breech joint, and required special machining.

Your Winchester Ranger is not a takedown model, of course, but the guys were talking about how to CONVERT a standard Winchester M1894 into a takedown model by machining a takedown mechanism.

HTH
John

tatwell · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2003, 11:50:57 AM »

CCanevit,
I'll be glad to send you the article in question if you would like to see it. Interesting info. Just let me know.

AeroE · « **Reply #14 on:** September 01, 2003, 02:42:20 PM »

Gentlemen

I wandered onto this thread tonight; I wonder if I can also get a copy of the conversion instructions for the Winchester 94?

I own two orginal Winchester takedown rifles - a .32 WS 1894 manufactured in 1924, and a .32-20 Model 53 manufactured in late '26 or '27 (don't remember off hand).

To disassemble these rifles -
- Release the magazine tube from the barrel; the latch is on the forward end of the tube,
- Unscrew the magazine tube from the rear reciever and remove completely from the rifle,
- Remove the barrel and forward reciever by unscrewing about a half turn, then withdraw the barrel assembly.

The nice feature of this design is the ability to clean the rifle from the breech, and I suspect this might have been more important to the old timers than the take down feature for travel - what good is the disassembled rifle in an emergency?

DB Leath · « **Reply #15 on:** September 02, 2003, 10:01:36 PM »

I would love to have a copy too...let me know what I have to do.

DB

AeroE · « **Reply #16 on:** September 03, 2003, 04:16:42 PM »

Here is a modern custom conversion -

http://www.wildwestguns.com/CoPilot_And_Guide_Rifles/body_copilot_and_guide_rifles.html

This gives a good idea how conventional lever action rifles can be converted. The orginal rifles have a unique reciever that is longer than non-takedown versions. If you search around the web, it is easy to find photos of original examples of Winchesters, and occasionally, Marlin takedowns.