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WAR YEARS WIN-94
David Perry
Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
Greetings Winchester Experts --- I recently aquired a most spectacular WAR YEARS Win-94, 30-WCF, SN-1353991, all marks/stamps are on the barrel - not the tang. This rifle has the round (fig-8) barrel strap/band - not flat. I have tried to research the mfg date - not much exist that I can find. I think it was made 1945~1946.
Questions:
1) What is the facination with collectors on "flat-band" Winchesters? I understand the war years effort to save on material/labor.
2) When did they start and stop making flat-band Win-94?
3) Should the stamp/markings be on the barrel or upper tang for that year mfg?
Any info would be nice. I love collecting guns with mysterys . . .
Regards & Thanks,
dp [img][/img][img][/img][img][/img]
Questions:
1) What is the facination with collectors on "flat-band" Winchesters? I understand the war years effort to save on material/labor.
2) When did they start and stop making flat-band Win-94?
3) Should the stamp/markings be on the barrel or upper tang for that year mfg?
Any info would be nice. I love collecting guns with mysterys . . .
Regards & Thanks,
dp [img][/img][img][/img][img][/img]
Comments
In answer to your questions,
1. I am unaware of any particular "fascination" with the Flat-band Carbines. They were not actually manufactured during the War years.
2. Production of the Flat-band carbines began several months after WW II ended. My best estimate is that the Flat-band production began in May 1946.
3. Winchester ceased marking the upper tangs in late August of 1942. Serial number 1353991 was manufactured in January of 1946, and it should have a milled figure-8 front barrel band and an umarked upper tang. Based on the Polishing Room Serialization Records, serial number 1352066 was the last serial number made in the year 1945 (December 29th).
In my extensive survey of the Model 94, the first (lowest serial number) Flat-band Carbine I have found is 1375557. There is a very short range of serial numbers where both milled bands and flat-bands are found (the highest serial number with a milled band is 1378401), but by serial number 1376703, the flat-bands predominate. Flat-band production ended in late 1948 (circa October). The highest serial number I have surveyed with a flat-band is 1546817. Again, there is an intermix of both types of barrel bands in the 1545432 - 1546817 serial number range. After serial number 1546900, only the milled bands are found.
Based on an extrapolation of all serial numbers I have verified in my survey, approximately 140,000 flat-band carbines were manufactured between May 1946 and October of 1948.
Does your Carbine have a serrated steel butt plate, or the flat checkered steel butt plate?
WACA Historian & Life Member
The butt-plate is the serrated steel type. The rifle has been well cared for - all origional everything - a shooter. No after market holes or accessories - lots of factory finish too. Delighted to add it to my collection.
My local FFL guy thought most WAR YEAR 94's should all have flat-bands. I wasnt sure until now . . .
Regards - dp
Hi Bert - you are definitely a "one-stop-shop" for Winchester answers - thank you so much for all the exemplary research. I will save your info in my 94's baby book [:)]
The butt-plate is the serrated steel type. The rifle has been well cared for - all origional everything - a shooter. No after market holes or accessories - lots of factory finish too. Delighted to add it to my collection.
My local FFL guy thought most WAR YEAR 94's should all have flat-bands. I wasnt sure until now . . .
Regards - dp
You are quite welcome[:)]. The serrated butt plate is what I expected.
WACA Historian & Life Member