Author Topic: Old 94 cal.38-55 (Read 1450 times)

Buster95 · « **on:** February 22, 2010, 10:27:59 AM »

What are your impressions on this rifle No.122 in the list http://psmilitaria.50megs.com/winchester.html the problem is the cracked forend (handguard), good buy?

Dee · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2010, 11:22:48 AM »

If I wanted a 3855, that sounds good to me.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2010, 11:36:53 AM »

It's long from a collector quality.
The wood is pretty rough and the bulling is pretty thin.
There is also some rust spots on the side of the frame.
Looks like it may have been cleaned.
For a gun of that age, not so bad really.
The price reflects the condition.
If it was nicer it would be much higher.
Wonder what shape the bore is in?
It can be dark with some pits and still shoot lead pretty decent.
Like Dee said, if I was after one I would buy it and keep looking for one a little nicer while enjoying it.
If all you are looking for is a shooter than by all means buy it if it is in shooting condition.
There is room to make a little profit there but not much, unless you found someone that just had to have one.
I want one but a little nicer than that.
In the end only you can decide!

LONGTOM

Rangr44 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2010, 11:51:19 AM »

FWIW, the rear sight (view 4) isn't original to the rifle.

It's a shooter, as posted above - but I would buy it only if I absolutely couldn't find another.

.

Dee · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2010, 12:06:49 PM »

The add actually says the bore is in good condition. The question to me is DO YOU RELOAD, because I doubt 3855 is not ammo your gonna pickup a walmart.
I would buy the rifle if I didn't have one already. The rifle to me has character, and old world craftsmanship. It is what a Winchester USED TO BE. But that's my opinion.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2010, 12:21:33 PM »

Quote from: Rangr44 on February 22, 2010, 11:51:19 AM

FWIW, the rear sight (view 4) isn't original to the rifle.

It's a shooter, as posted above - but I would buy it only if I absolutely couldn't find another.

.

I pondered that for a while before I posted my reply but not really being a model 94 collector I wasn't sure.

Dee:
I believe that you and I might just like the same things in a good rifle.
That is the way I feel about some of the ones I have.
May not be the nicest on the block but they suit me just fine!

LONGTOM

Dee · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2010, 12:49:05 PM »

LONGTOM, I remember the day, and place I was sitting when my dad handed me a brand new 1958 Model 94 Winchester 3030. I now live across the road from that house, and that living room. I remember my dad telling me to never sell the gun, and it's the one thing he told me that I actually complied to the fullest. I have never even considered getting rid of that ole Winchester.
It's 52 years old now, and it doesn't look new anymore, but this afternoon just for grins I busted a small piece of an orange clay pigeon with it, at about 75 yards. Ya know come to think of it, I don't look so new anymore either.

Pick up one of the the Winchesters made in the 60s, and then pick mine up. You can tell the difference blindfolded.

Buster95, that ole rifle has been huntin longer than you have. Buy it! It might teach you a thing or two.

Buster95 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2010, 01:14:24 PM »

I want the rifle only for shooting and yes I reload. Too bad for the rear sight I prefer an old rifle with original parts. Thanks guys.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2010, 02:29:56 PM »

Buster95:

The right rear sight isn't hard to find.
I see all types of them at the gun shows and even on Flee-Bay.

I know what you mean Dee.
I have my older deceased brothers 1953 that our grandfather gave new to him when he finished high school and yes you can tell the difference.
My brother gave it to my oldest son before he was killed in a hunting accident on a friends farm.
He fell climbing down out of a tree stand.
You know, I might just take it out this fall and take one more with it just for him.
I never got to hunt much with my brother but I sure miss him.
Especially around deer season.
Just isn't quite the same.
The oldest doesn't seem to care about hunting much at this juncture of his young life.
Last year in school, girl friend and getting ready for college.
Maybe he will come back to it someday.

LONGTOM

torpedoman · « **Reply #9 on:** February 22, 2010, 03:59:41 PM »

thats a good price on it as a shooter grade gun in a hard to find caliber. I'd buy it but they don't ship to the u.s.

Buster95 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2010, 04:43:09 PM »

Here are close up of the crack in the forend. Also the seller is not sure if the rifle is safe to shoot he told me to let a gunsmith check the rifle.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2010, 06:53:05 PM »

Forearm cracks are pretty common on guns of this vintage that have seen a lot of use.
The seller is giving you some good advice but at the same time may be raising a red flag.
I would want it checked before I paid for it.
Does he offer a inspection period?
3 to 5 days is the customary time frame.

LONGTOM

Buster95 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2010, 10:15:37 AM »

The seller has a mail order store, but I ordered some guns from him in the past without any problems.

Hank08 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 17, 2010, 06:54:15 AM »

Buster, that crack should be no problem, take off the forend and open up the crack on the inside, epoxy it there and it won't show and won't crack any further. The main thing ,if your going to shoot it, is the bore and does the carrier work properly. I have one just like it made in 1897. It was in such bad shape, forend was cracked end to end, hanger than forend cap screws into was missing, had been painted black end to end and the action had been poured full of black paint. Barrel said 32/40 and after I got the forend and mag tube off the barrel fell out, had no threads and was wrapped with a thin piece of tin to hold it in. Traded a box of 30/30 ammo for it. Found a 38/55 26" oct. barrel for it, cleaned off the paint, put the original sights from the old barrel on it, made the piece for the forend. Everyone who sees it now thinks it came from the factory that way. 2 months ago I won a 200 yd. offhand match shooting that rifle. If you want a shooter and can do a little work on it that's a good price.
H08

gunnut69 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2010, 07:32:31 AM »

General those cracks are dry checks and are easy to fix. Be sure to pry them open a bit and allow the epoxy to flow in deep(sometimes an air blow guncan be used to blow the epoxy to the back of the crack) and compress it closed after the epoxy is instilled. The easiest way is surgical tubing and blocks of wood to keep the parts aligned as the pressure is applied. Done correctly it will be difficult to see. The metal looks fine and a little WD40 applied and burnished with a bit of 0000 steel fur followed by a light application of WD40 allowed to dry will make it looks nearly perfect. Lightly steel fur th wood just to clean and apply a bit of finish or perhaps just waz to make the stock more presentable.. This is a rare caliber and well worth the asking price. In the staes it would likely bring in the neighborhood of $1200-1700 after it was cleaned.. Also its a rifle which are a bit rarer.. As to shooting it these rifles are very old and metalurgy has come a long way. If shooting is what your after find a commerative that has been fired (collector value nearly gone) and by it. The actions isn't as well made but the steel is much stronger and my 'LegendaryFronteirsman' does just fine..

Hickok · « **Reply #15 on:** May 29, 2010, 04:17:59 PM »

If you buy the rifle and reload for it, buy some 38-55 brass from Starline. It is slightly thinner than Win. brass. and will chamber much easier when using .379"-.380" cast bullets you will need for the rifle. Also buy some RCBS Cowboy dies for the rifle, as they are demensioned correctly for the 38-55, not just .375 Win dies relabeled to 38-55 as must makers sell. (These misnamed dies are demensioned to reload .375" slugs and don't work well with the larger .379-.380 slugs you need for your rifle.)

My Winchester 38-55 Legacy has a groove diameter of .379".