1894 Winchester - Eastern carbine

[Dutchman]

This was found in a dilapidated fishing cabin in Washington state (not by me). It was pretty far into rusting away so I had to put it to the wire wheel. The bore is not shootable as it is. The locking block has so much wear that headspace is a distant memory. Still, it's fully functional.

The only 94 Winchester I've ever owned was a 94 rifle with 26" octagonal barrel and made in the teens. It was a pretty darn good rifle and I wouldn't mind having another though the carbines don't do much for me.

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[StrawHat]

To what caliber and cartridge are you going to have it rebored and chambered? For an eastern carbine, 32-50 and 38-55 were two of the options. It looks like a good project.

[Jack Stanley]

Hmmmmm ....... maybe a little bead blasting , spend a little time in the parkerizing tanks , clean the tube out to 38-55 . Things could be worse :p

Jack

[Dutchman]

Dang, you guys are optimists!

I guess it's possible but my machine shop is already buried in overdue work.


Dutch

[MtGun44]

32 Spl. rebore and maybe a new locking block if required to make it safe. Leave the
'character'.

Bill

[runfiverun]

definately a shooter 32 win in the making.

[StrawHat]

I figured the 32 Special was too mundane for the Dutchman but the Ballard cartridges would be exotic enough to catch his eye. And still authentic to the concept of the Eastern Carbine.

A carbine from 1922 deserves restoration.

[junkbug]

What is the bore (not groove) diameter for a 32 Special. If his bore is really that bad, there may be pitting left on the lands after trying this.

Probably better off with the old 35 Winchester wildcat.

[40cal]

Re-rifling to 0.358 is a good idea as there are a good number of molds around, and being able to neck readily available 30-30 brass up to the 35-30/30 will keep the shooting cheap. I do have a question though - I thought the eastern carbine had a metal forearm tip just like the 26" rifles, but maybe my memory is slipping.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Me I would go to 38-55... has to be one of the best cast calibers. Round ball up to 280 grainers makes it about the most useful caliber I own.

[Tazman1602]

Hey Dutch -

Bead blast that bad boy and get some of Brownell's spray can finish called "Aluma-Hyde II". That stuff works GREAT on oldy moldy rifles and pistols or actually any metal and is tough as nails when applied properly and allowed the right dry time. Looks good too!

.............then a new locking block, $225 for a rebore to 38-55 by JES rifle reboring ( http://www.35caliber.com/2.html ) and you've got a nice rifle!!!

Art

[excess650]

If the bore is bad, how is the chamber? Reboring to 32/35/38 won't be worth a hoot if the chamber is *****. If the chamber is OK, go for a rebore. In 35/30 or 38/55 it would make for a handy but pretty powerful package.

[nicholst55]

If I wanted to have a collectible rifle's barrel rebored, I would send it to Redman's; he charges $450; Redman's (http://www.redmansrifling.com/reboring_prices.htm). Since your Winchester has no collector's value as-is, I think I would very seriously consider rebarreling, preferably with a take-off barrel ~ assuming that I could find one. Redman's does cut rifling on all their rebores, which is why it's so costly.

There are a few places that could fill in the worst of the pitting on the receiver before refinishing, but you're getting into pretty big money with that. I think I'd get it rebarreled, a new locking block installed, then have it sandblasted and parkerized - or maybe Cerakoted (http://www.nicindustries.com/firearm_coatings.php).

[quack1]

I'll bet the buttstock has been replaced at one time. Rifle type butt plate on a carbine and the tang screw protruding out of the lower tang. I'd check some parts suppliers for used 94 barrels before considering reboring as the chamber is probably as bad as the the rest of the barrel and wouldnt get cleaned up with the rifleing.

[John Taylor]

It could be relined back to 30-30 or any of the other 94 calibers. I would not go with a wildcat just to be different. If you want a good cast bullet shooter the 38-55 would probably be the way to go. Doyle's gun shop will bead blast and blue for under $100 (208-686-1006).
If you like rifles a new barrel is the way to go. Run about $600 for an octagon barrel with new mag, forearm, and other parts. Add $100 for finished forearm, Barrel would be another $125 with Winchester markings. Cost may very depending on who does the work.
Might be a good idea to put a little penetrating oil on all the screws now so it can be taken apart later.

[JJC]

Sounds like a nice project to me. I am looking for something old and beat up to play with as time permits. The comments here sound like good advice

[thx997303]

At the very worst, it would look great hanging on a wall as is.

[StrawHat]

If the bore is bad, how is the chamber? Reboring to 32/35/38 won't be worth a hoot if the chamber is *****. If the chamber is OK, go for a rebore. In 35/30 or 38/55 it would make for a handy but pretty powerful package.


Good point about the chamber, but I have found they are usually okay. If not, bore the whole thing and sleeve it to wahtever caliber you want and then cut a new chamber.

[StrawHat]

I'll bet the buttstock has been replaced at one time. Rifle type butt plate on a carbine ....

I thought the definition of the Eastern carbine included having a rifle butt on a carbine length barrel? Anyone else remember that?

As for the long screw, well a file would remedy that if it were a problem.

[Dannix]

To my eyes that's a 35/30-30 project. :-)

[Dutchman]

$600 on a pitted beater? Man, you guys are dedicated:).

I wouldn't call this one "collectible". But then again I'm not into lever guns like some of you are. I could see sticking another barrel on it, like .38-55... and a long magazine tube. The wood is surprisingly decent.

If I run out of Mausers to play with I'll delve into this. That's not real likely, though. But I do kinda miss playing with lever guns. My first was a Marlin .38-40 that was pitted a little worse than this Winchester. It had the long octagonal barrel. Had nice balance. Didn't particularly appreciate the .38-40 as a rifle cartridge but at the time there was an old Texas Colt SAA in .38-40 that went with it. They made a nice combo.

Dutch