Winchester 94 forearm length?

pabooger

Why do some of the older Winchester 94's Have a longer forearm? Some protude about 3/4 of an inch past the band, and others a good 2 inches past the band.

Which is more preferred, and are the guns with the longer forearms worth more??

Thanks Pa

Old-Colts

As to the "why", I really don't know why Winchester shortened the forearms unless it had to do with manufacturing cost. However, aesthetically, I believe the majority of Winchester collectors prefer the longer forearm, me included. The change from a 9 1/8 inch forearm to the shorter 7 15/16 inch forearm, according to some references, occurred about serial number 1,940,000, which would be late in the Pre 64 configuration production (possibly sometime around 1954). As far as value difference I really can't quantify the difference, but suffice it to say since the longer forearm Model 94's are earlier guns and to most collectors aesthetically more pleasing they will be more desirable and the value somewhat higher.

pabooger

The reason I asked, is I seen one for sale on the auction side, and he had it listed as an Eastern Carbine, because of the forearm. I always thought that the term Eastern Carbine was just basically one without the saddle ring.

Bert H.

quote:Originally posted by pabooger
Why do some of the older Winchester 94's Have a longer forearm? Some protude about 3/4 of an inch past the band, and others a good 2 inches past the band.

Which is more preferred, and are the guns with the longer forearms worth more??

Thanks Pa


Actually, all of the older standard Carbines have the longer 9-1/8" (9-1/16") forend stocks... with only the Trappers (with shorter than 18" barrels) being made with a shorter (8-1/8") forend stock.

Depending upon which researcher/author you choose to believe, the change from the longer 9-1/8 forend stock to the shorter 7-7/8" (7-15/16") occurred in the 1,850,00 or 1,940,000 serial range. I personally have not seen or handled enough of them in that range to know which is more accurate. More than likely, the change took place over a 1-2 year period of time.

The Carbines with the longer forend stocks are typically more desirable, but it is mainly because they are older (pre-WW II in most cases), so yes, they are worth more $$$ in the same condition.

Wolf.

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But, what about the comment regarding the "Eastern Carbine"?

Does it really refer to the carbine version without a saddle ring?

kimi

quote:Originally posted by Wolf.
--
But, what about the comment regarding the "Eastern Carbine"?

Does it really refer to the carbine version without a saddle ring?


My knowledge is greatly limited as compared to people who have been in the collection or study of Winchesters for say, 20 to 40 years or more. However, what little knowledge I do have regarding the Eastern Carbine description comes from references like those in the Blue Book of Gun Values (BBGV) and, say, The Winchester Model 94 The First 100 years, by Carl Renneburg. Robert (Bob) Renneberg

More explicitly, in the 25th Anniversary Edition of the BBGV the Eastern Carbine is described as: "Eastern Carbine - features long forearm, early stock design, early style carbine front sight, and without saddle ring, mfg. late 1920s-early 30s". This information is given as a footnote to the Model 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine. Consider the foregoing description along with one of Renneberg's notes: Saddle Rings were omitted as a standard item on carbines within the 1,000,000 to 1,350,000 serial number range.

Working with these references, to include, the manfacturing dates based on *serial numbers, make, and model as noted in the BBGV, we might find that any model 1894 carbine within the subject serial number range would likely be identified as an Eastern Carbine, which Renneberg classifies as commonly referred to as a "pre-war" model. Renneberg also notes the differences between this type carbine and the "Transitional" model.

So, once again, with my limited knowledge as to what constitutes an Eastern Carbine, the single biggest feature aside from the serial number block which denotes the absence of the Saddle Ring as a standard item, would be the Long Forearm. I say this because, the later style buttstock, the saddle ring, and different sights are found on carbines made in the late 20s and early 30s due to special order items.

*Denotes that I do not have available Bert's latest serial number data for this era.

Bert H.

quote:Originally posted by pabooger
I always thought that the term Eastern Carbine was just basically one without the saddle ring.

That is a true statement. "Eastern" Carbines were made for a few years before Winchester eliminated the saddle ring as a standard feature in 1925 (circa serial number 950,000). Saddle rings could still be ordered as a no cost option up to circa 1940.

Bert H.

quote:Originally posted by Wolf.
--
But, what about the comment regarding the "Eastern Carbine"?

Does it really refer to the carbine version without a saddle ring?


Yes, it does.