Why the 1894 Winchester?

[airedaleman]

This may be a dumb question, but I have often wondered why Winchester management put up with a new design to launch the .30 WCF, rather than use the elegant 1886/1892-type action scaled to fit the new cartridge. Was John Moses that good a salesman for his brainchildren?

[Old Ironsights]

Longer than the 92 but skinnier/lighter than the 86.

[Old Time Hunter]

What OI said, also developed to handle "smokeless" powder with longer thinner cartridges.

[Terry Murbach]

PUT A '94 BESIDE A '92 AND COMPARE THEIR RELATIVE SIZE. YOU'LL BE AMAZED.
JMB WAS TOLD TO COME UP WITH AN ACTION THE SAME SIZE AS THE '92 IN LENGTH AND THICKNESS THAT WOULD HANDLE THE LONGER CARTRIDGES THE LENGTH OF THE 38-55 BALLARD. THE IS WHY THE ACTION FLOORPLATE DROPS DOWN AND WHY IT LOCKS UP IN THE VERY REAR. OH MY, WHATTA RIFLE/CARBINE !!!!

[KirkD]

Terry pretty much summed it up.

[Grizz]

I think there is a lower parts count and it's cheaper to manufacture from a machining perspective too.

+ what the other guys said...,

[t.r.]

If you ever get the chance, visit the gun museum at Arsenal Island. Its located in middle of Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa. A bronze plaque at the cornerstone is dedicated to John Moses Browning.

The Commandant's home is the second largest residence built by US Gov't. White House is largest. There is a fairly large graveyard of Confederate POWS who died while in prison on this island. The brick buildings have been well maintained and its a nice place to picnic as well.

Browning was a mechanical genius. The 1894 was designed primarily with production costs in mind. Simplicity is a good word to describe the workings of this lever action. Indeed, the 94 was priced low for most of its production years. When I was a teen they sold 'em less than $100. for brand new carbine! No kidding.

The model 71 and model 92 were based upon the 1886.

Browning was offered a high salary and new home to come on board as employee of Oliver Winchester. But Browning had several wives (common Mormon practice back then) and would not leave Utah for this reason. I found this little known fact by conducting research on biographies of Winchester, Browning, and Henry.

The museum has some interesting guns to view including an experimental short model 92 which was considered by War Dept. before M-1 carbine won out. There are also many artifacts from Battle of the Little Bighorn.

TR