Author Topic: Lever Safety - Mod. 94 Winchester (Read 1726 times)

Rick Teal · « **on:** February 22, 2005, 02:20:04 PM »

I asked this question over at the Winchester forum, and didn't get any bites, so I thought I'd try it here.

As some of you may know, I acquired an AE Big Bore in .356 Winchester last summer.

I find the lever safety annoying. It's not my habit to grasp the lever and stock firmly enough to release the lever safety - particularly when shooting from the bench.

Do any of you know if the lever safety can be de-activated on this rifle?

Thanks!
Rick

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2005, 01:24:08 AM »

Rick - deactivating a safety is just an accident waiting to happen and I sure wouldn't recommend doing that. A parts manual or schematic, like the one you can get for the rifle from Winchester, would sufficiently detail the working parts so as to enable you to do what you want. But, I never said that. And I ain't tellin' ya who this is...............

Kurt · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2005, 08:56:09 PM »

I can't get the (why) for this safety feature. All of the levers Iv'e had and shot didn't have this. I guess I'll find out I have a new 94 44 ordered. All other levers can't be accidents waiting to happen. My 1886 (71 browning) had nothing of the sort but I think it did have a way to keep the hammer from tripping before the block was all the way up. I have a pre safety 9422M that is only a couple years old that don't need to be squeezed. I consider it to be as safe a firearm as I have ever owned.

Rick Teal · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2005, 05:37:44 PM »

Mikey:

I bought this rifle used, so I didn't get an owners manual.

The lever safety (to me) is a redundant feature. There is a crossbolt safety that is very positive, and prevents the rifle from firing. This lever safety requires that you squeeze the lever tight to the stock, as well as disengaging the crossbolt. For me this is very uncomfortable when I'm trying to shoot the rifle with any degree of precision from the bench.

Kurt:

I liked the old half-cock type of safety myself, but that's absent in my rifle, and has been replaced by this dual system.

Kurt · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:14:19 PM »

Hey Rick, I posted an article you will want to see over in "lever action rifles" forum. I'm glad you brought this up. I want to be informed before I accept this new rifle. The guy was working on a crossbolt I believe but mine will have the tang safety so it will likely be different yet.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:32:14 PM »

The M94 has always had the safety interlock on the lever. It is to prevent the rifle from firing with the lever less than fully closed. It should not require a tremendous amount of pressure to depress. Perhaps there is a problem but I really don't see the problem with this feature. The link below will take you to a parts diagram and the safety's position and simplicity will be obvious..

http://stevespages.com/ipb-winchester-94.html

I strongly advise to leave this fine old design alone.. It's not a bench rest rifle..

Rick Teal · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2005, 08:19:11 PM »

gunnut69:

This is the first '94 I've ever owned - I just never liked the feel of them. I bought this rifle for the chambering, not the rifle design.

My other lever guns (Savages and a Browning - I've never paid much attention to the Marlins I've owned either) require that the lever be closed before the trigger will engage, but none of them require me to hold it closed against a spring loading (resistance).

I'll have to pick up a hunting buddy's older '94 and see if its the same. It's so uncomfortable, I can't imagine that the '94 has always been that way.

Thanks

gunnut69 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 01, 2005, 08:24:14 AM »

I've never heard this safety spoken of as uncomfortable. There may well be a problem or perhaps the new 94's have a spring that's that much heavier?? The 94 is a fine design and a really good short to mefium range rifle.. as well as a legend in the gunmaking fraturnity.

frhunter13 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2010, 02:46:02 PM »

Quote from: Rick Teal on February 28, 2005, 08:19:11 PM

gunnut69:

This is the first '94 I've ever owned - I just never liked the feel of them. I bought this rifle for the chambering, not the rifle design.

My other lever guns (Savages and a Browning - I've never paid much attention to the Marlins I've owned either) require that the lever be closed before the trigger will engage, but none of them require me to hold it closed against a spring loading (resistance).

I'll have to pick up a hunting buddy's older '94 and see if its the same. It's so uncomfortable, I can't imagine that the '94 has always been that way.

a

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I have hunted with the 94 for almost 40 years. It is the most comfortable, lightest and quickest to aim big game rifle I own (including the heavier Marlin and Browning). I own maybe 40 big game rifles. I know I am sick and need help. Especially since the only one (beside black powder) I ever use now is my 94AE Black Shadow 3030 RIFLE and Hornady LeverEvolution ammo. This is a 7 pound 300 yard rifle. The lever safety has saved my ass more than once. Sometimes that hammer is slippery, and guess what. In 40 years it will slip off your thumb more than once when loading or de-cocking. I don't mind the cross bolt safety either. I put it on when I am going over obstacles or through rough brush. Thus, I KNOW the rife will not go off even if a vine pulls the hammer back some. What in the world could you complain about? The two safeties and the hammer make this the safest big game rifle as well as the best handling. My 94's have taken more White Tails than I feel comfortable counting. I do eat them at least.