So did I do alright or no?

[gmsharps]

Absolutely do not refinish. If you did it’s character and value would greatly be affected. Not a bad price for today’s market. Just my thought

Gmsharps

[BigAlofPa.]

Nice vintage rifle. I would let in the current condition too.

[Ithaca Gunner]

A few subtle differences between pre-war and 1955, but still old Winchester quality.

Most notable are the forend being longer on the pre-war and the shape of the but stock, the pre-war being slightly curved.



Pre-war used, .30WCF rather than .30-30. No holes for a side mount peep sight. Checkered hammer rather than grooved.



Winchester-Trade Mark-Made In USA on the tang.



Right side barrel markings and the classic forging lines on the receiver.



921,841 Model 94's between them in just 16 years!

[Mk42gunner]

About 40 some years ago I was coming out of a junkyard with a bucket of wheelweights I had just pried off and a guy stopped me and asked if I was interested in guns. I said yes so he took me to his car and opened the trunk. He had a Win 97 16 ga modified and a Win 94 in a leather scabbard. I asked how much and he said $100 each and I said sold. The 94 was made in that group from 1941 tp 1945. The wood has almost no finish left but otherwise no dents or scratches. Bluing is mostly gone but zero rust. Scabbard is in excellent shape too. It shoots the first three into minute of coffee cup as said above but vertically strings any more. At the time I just thought I got a great deal from a guy who needed the cash but lately I wondered about the history of those two guns.

Bob

Bob,
At that time around here $100 was pretty much the going price for a .30-30, either Winchester or Marlin.

My biggest problem is I still tend to think of them as $100 guns. Intellectually, I know those days are gone, the same as buying a .22 for five or ten dollars. But the memory persists.

Robert

[Stopsign32v]

A few subtle differences between pre-war and 1955, but still old Winchester quality.

Most notable are the forend being longer on the pre-war and the shape of the but stock, the pre-war being slightly curved.



Pre-war used, .30WCF rather than .30-30. No holes for a side mount peep sight. Checkered hammer rather than grooved.



Winchester-Trade Mark-Made In USA on the tang.



Right side barrel markings and the classic forging lines on the receiver.



921,841 Model 94's between them in just 16 years!

Yea I have a feeling this is the first of many pre 64's I'll end up with. Personal goal is a pre 1925.

[Texas by God]

Since we're showing them...

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[Stopsign32v]

This has been a looooooong time coming! I can tell you guys that much

Just last month I got some 30-30 brass in a deal and chuckled to my friend that I don't even have a gun that shoots 30-30!

[Ithaca Gunner]

Tomorrow I'll get some pics of my 1898 SRC. It came to me as a .30WCF with a bore like an old sewer pipe. J.E.S. cured that by reboring it to .38/55. Early carbines tended to be working guns spending a lot of time outdoors in any weather and suffered neglect. Sporting rifles were held in more regard by their owners and better cared for. For me, the prize is the short rifle, I love those!

[NEKVT]

Another vote for not refinishing it. That's in great original condition for a 1955. I have a birth year 1954 in 32 Special that's all original but not that nice and I'm not touching the finish on wood or metal and love it for what it is. Haven't bought any rifles for a while so can't comment on your cost but it's all relative to your enjoyment level...and you seem quite happy with it!

[762 shooter]

Since no one has mentioned it...............Do Not Refinish!

It can only have original finish once.

762

[Ithaca Gunner]

My 1898 SRC for comparison.

This old gal had seen some times for sure and was a working gun in .30WCF. The only complaint I had when received was, the bore was trash, it had pits in it you could hide a VW Beetle in! Off it went to J.E.S. and now it chambers and fires .38-55 in a pristine bore with 5 groove Winchester cut rifling, and does it very well! Two week turn around BTW! I believe the stocks to be of Gum Wood which was typical for carbines at the time. This old carbine has the smoothest, most positive action I've ever worked on an 1894/M94. It even sounds different compared to others, quieter and more solid. It's pure joy to work the lever on this one!



Front sight placed behind the barrel band.



This one has the Winchester Express three leaf rear sight with the platinum lines rather than the typical ladder sight. They made them for both carbine and rifle. No address roll stamp on the right side of the barrel.



Typical forging lines on the receiver.



''Model 1894'' ''Winchester'' and Patent date on the tang.



''Widows Peak'' checkering on the hammer of the early ones.




See what isn't here? Missing is the WP in the oval, (Winchester Proof) on both barrel and receiver...Not on this year.





.30 WCF on top of the barrel and Nickel Steel Barrel over Especially For Smokeless Powder on the left side.



Address top in front of rear sight.



Serial number indicating 1898 manufacture. Don't rely on the web site for correct serial number exact date, it lists this gun as 1902, the book says 1898. The web site also lists my 1940 M-94 at 1939 and it's actually 1940.

[farmbif]

you got a nice looking Winchester. they are not so easy to find in that condition. I would not even attempt to refinish that gun. unless you want a custom job and send it to someone like Turnbull.
just for reference, here is a little info on winchester finishes

https://du-lite.com/blackening-post-...ter-receivers/

[Shawlerbrook]

Considering where we are in 2021 you did ok . And do not refinish !

[Eddie Southgate]

Looks great just like it is . I would not refinish it if it were mine but you do whatever makes you happy . The price was ok, not great but not bad either . Five or six years ago the pawn shops within 30 miles of my house all had 94's and 336 Marlins from $225-$350 and most of them would have 8 or 10 of them at any time .I bought several 94's in the 90's for $125 and sold them for $100 profit and thought I was doing good . Now they have had none for the past two years and online they start at about $600 and go up to $1500 or more . I should have bought two per month while they were cheap.

[pworley1]

Your opinion is the only one that matters. That is a very nice rifle. Enjoy!