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1968 Winchester 94

CovingtonTacticalCovingtonTactical Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
edited October 2013 in Ask the Experts
We are trying to sell our 1968 Winchester 94 and I was told to ask in the forums how to sell it because its parts are stamped and it has a steel buttplate as in Pre 64 rifles but I had a hard time explaining to people that though its serial numbered 3.3 million that this is made to pre 64 standards. Are there other ways to tell? If it is not possible that this rifle is Pre 64 even though it has all the characteristics of a Pre 64, how does it have machined parts and a steel buttplate when that standard was discontinued 4 years because it was manufactured? Please give me some guideance about my rifle. If you would like to see pictures please send me an email address or tell me how to send pictures..this platform is new to me.

Comments

  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    CovingtonTactical,

    If it has a 3.3 million serial number to start off with, then it is impossible it was made to pre 1964 standards. The reciever is not the same alloy steel as the pre 64.

    What you could have is a lunch box special, or a nicer version of a bubba special. No where near the value of a Pre-64.

    Best
  • 62fuelie62fuelie Member Posts: 1,069 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    At the beginning of this section is a "sticky" that details how to post pictures. These will be very helpful in trying to answer your questions.
  • MG1890MG1890 Member Posts: 4,460 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not all steel buttplate '94's are pre 64. The steel buttplate indicates that the rifle was manufactured either pre '64 or mid to late 60's ish.

    As far as stamped vs. milled, why does it matter? Your rifle is post 64, advertise it as post '64, and stop trying to capitalize on the pre '64 stigma. Come to think of it, exactly which part (parts) are you referring to?
  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I will reiterate this... your Model 94 with a 3.3-million serial number was not manufactured to pre-1964 standards except for the barrel and butt plate. Additionally, it was not manufactured in the year 1968. Serial number 3.3-million was manufactured in either late 1970 or early 1971.

    In regards to the flat checkered steel butt plates, Winchester used them all the way into the early 1970s. They were not discontinued at the transition from pre-1964 to post-1963 production.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You might consider the post 64, 94's. That have sold recently, (Completed Auctions). To get a ballpark, Fair Market Value for yours.

    The positive as far as yours is concerned, is that it's a authentic Winchester, Winchester. Not one of the ones made under license by U.S. Repeating Arms, after 1981.
  • CovingtonTacticalCovingtonTactical Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ok. I understand all that. The parts that I am referring to is the internals. They are machined which we have been told by other Winchester experts is a Pre 64 trait. The other question is what is a good price for it? It was never fired and still has the cosmolene (packing grease) on the inside of the rifle. Theres no marks or damage the only "damage" is a green spot on the buttstock. I had it listed on here for BIN $499...had a lot of watchers but took it down when I couldnt convey what I was trying to and until I could get hard evidence to prove what I was trying to say one way or the other. I cant post photos here but there are real photos of the rifle on my website: http://www.covingtontactical.com/winchester1894.aspx

    Please help so I can get this rifle sold.
  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by CovingtonTactical
    Ok. I understand all that. The parts that I am referring to is the internals. They are machined which we have been told by other Winchester experts is a Pre 64 trait. The other question is what is a good price for it? It was never fired and still has the cosmolene (packing grease) on the inside of the rifle. Theres no marks or damage the only "damage" is a green spot on the buttstock. I had it listed on here for BIN $499...had a lot of watchers but took it down when I couldnt convey what I was trying to and until I could get hard evidence to prove what I was trying to say one way or the other. I cant post photos here but there are real photos of the rifle on my website: http://www.covingtontactical.com/winchester1894.aspx

    Please help so I can get this rifle sold.


    Simple...

    Advertise it as a post-63 Model 94, that is Pre-USRAC production. It is a real Winchester, not one made by someone else, with Winchester's name stamped on it. To do otherwise, especially if it is new/unfired, would imply that bubba changed some parts.

    Just to set the record straight, it is entirely possible, to mistake a stamped part, for a machined one. Coming from a manufacturing background, with process engineering, and process control expertise, most stamped parts require machine finish operations of some type. So you could see some machine marks on stamped parts.

    Bert is one of the leading Winchester experts, at least in the USA, and most likely the world. He has authored, and co-authored several new reference books, that displace the writings of George Madis. If you are going to continue to deal with these types of Winchester's, I would suggest getting a couple copies of them. They are available on the auction side.

    Best
  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,382 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It is my understanding that around 1968 Winchester started reversing some of the cheapskate alterations to the Model 94 and Model 70.

    An early post 1964 94 has an obviously stamped cartridge lifter. I have seen later guns with what appear to be machined lifters but may be cast, sintered, or MIM. They are solid and thick, not tinny, at any rate.
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