Winchester 64A

[joachim slim]

i see a winchester 64A this weekend.i dont know anything about this rifle. what can anyone here tell me about it. it was made in the mid 1970"s

[Griff]

Model 64A, made in 1972 & 1973. Basically a 94, .30-30 with pistol grip, 24" round barrel, ¾ magazine. Came with leather sling.





Front sling swivel in forend cap, rear ring stud in stock.



I understand that only about 8,000 of them were made. I bought the one above from a fellow forum member, then took it out deer hunting in 2006.

[joachim slim]

i handled the gun and it was clean and sleek. i understand there was a model 64 that was more expensive?

[Leverluver]

That was the first lever rifle I ever bought when they came out. I thought it was in 1971 but Griff is better with dates than I am. Paid $105 for it at Gart's in Denver. It was a great shooter and pretty attractive also. I came across my Model 71 Dlx so I sold the 64A to a friend at work, to finance the 71. He was a tiny little guy. Looked like a jockie; bet he didn't weigh 110 pounds. Anyway, that 64A was his elk rifle . From the time I sold it to him, to the time I got a job elsewhere, he had taken 4 elk with it. He was a great shot and never shot over 75 yds. He was deadly. Only caution is that I'm pretty sure that they were made out of Winchester's mystery metal, so the options of refinishing are limited, if the rifle were to be worn.

[Pete44ru]

The "more expensive one" , you heard of is the earlier Model 64 Standard and Model 64 Deluxe "Deer Rifle" made pre-1964 in approximatly the same pattern.
The Deluxe's were checkered, had an inletted sling swivel base in the rear and an integral one in the forearm, a sling - and sometimes a bolt peep.

The later '72-73 Model 64A was a direct copy of the 1871-1971 M-94 NRA Centennial Rifle commemorative, less the NRA's engraving and medallion, and is a lot like the pre-64's in style, but not exact.

The NRA had a black chromed receiver, but I'm not sure if the 64A did too.

[Scott64A]

I have one of these fine rifles, and you better go get it.

As Griff said, the run waslimited, in 72-73. The lady at Winchester told me there were 12 thousand some odd made in those two years.

I love mine, it shoots great and carries well.

Also, and not that I buy guns to collect and resell, I bought mine for $279.00 in 2001, and now I've seen them around $700.00.

Wierd.
The collectors are after them I guess since Winchester closed.

[mod71alaska]

i handled the gun and it was clean and sleek. i understand there was a model 64...?

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... ght=#43870

[Bigahh]

I have both the 64A, and the original 64 from the 30's. The 64A is a great shooter, just love the rifle to death. heres a 50 yard picture.

[mod71alaska]

The 64A is a great shooter, just love the rifle to death. heres a 50 yard picture.

Bigahh, that's mighty fine shooting! No deer is walking away from your 64A, that's for sure!

[Drawdown]

I was on the Mod 64a subject on another site and found this. Had to resurrect it, my love of mine is no secret, in fact of all my rifles of all types it carries the flag. I worked with a long time friend all thru the 80’s, who's most gun nutty man I ever met, and I'd known of the old original Mod 64, but they never really stole my interest. But he had a 64a he bought new. When I handled it, shouldered it, looked at it for what it was, I literally fell in love! I wanted buy it so bad but no way he'd sell. Well where I live, it's only one I ever saw, and no one else, until just recent years knew what they where! Well upon research, I found that that perfectly stocked & balanced rifle was the result of Townsend Whelen's suggested stock. Well that made it even more desirable to me, I've always been a believer in him. Plus found out it's really configured identical to Mod 71, per Whelen again! Well it took me many years, had really given up hope finding one. One day wondered into a pawn shop few hours from home. Low n Behold, THERE IT WAS, 1971 NRA Centennial Model, which in 72&73 is a 64a! Best all it was a collectors, never fired, and I can't describe really how much I live this rifle, and it's been literally perfect in deer woods, and awesome at range with most anything I put in it! But way back when I was younger just had sampled deer hunting, and already loved the 30wcf, I read about the Mod 64 Deluxe Deer Rifle! Hey, deluxe or plain I some how knew, it's the ultimate deer rifle for me!

[Drawdown]

The "more expensive one" , you heard of is the earlier Model 64 Standard and Model 64 Deluxe "Deer Rifle" made pre-1964 in approximatly the same pattern.
The Deluxe's were checkered, had an inletted sling swivel base in the rear and an integral one in the forearm, a sling - and sometimes a bolt peep.

The later '72-73 Model 64A was a direct copy of the 1871-1971 M-94 NRA Centennial Rifle commemorative, less the NRA's engraving and medallion, and is a lot like the pre-64's in style, but not exact.

The NRA had a black chromed receiver, but I'm not sure if the 64A did too.

Bert Hartman on WACA said that he thought the 71 Centennial Model was made with at least some "better metals" but he didn't go into detail, but first I'd heard of the Chromed Receiver.

[Griff]

Neither of the 2 64As I've owned were black chromed. Both are of the same sintered steel as the mdl 94 of the period and used the same "bluing" process. My original one was won in a raffle in 1972 for a single $5 ticket. Stolen from my apartment in 1974 after returning from VN. Another great mdl 94 variant is the 1894/1994 Centennial mdl 94s. Their big wart is the cross bolt safety thru the receiver, but I wormed my way around that by installing one of the 1894/1994 barrels on a earlier receiver. Same 26" bbl, but in a ½round/octagon configuration.

[Drawdown]

So you still have the Mod 64a that's in the pic above? I'm not familiar at all with the 84/94 Commemorative Model, but I'd sure like to run up on one from your description, although I detest a crossbolt or tang safety either on a levergun. Of all the many configurations of the 94, from first to last, if I could choose any, I'd probably say the Mod 64, but I'd as much like the earlier Deluxe Model, 26" half oct/rd barrel, short mag, tang sight, but special ordered pistol grip-13.5"lop stock, and of course in 30wcf!
Oh, and for sure like to have a Mod 64 in 32Spl
Also clicked on the link in mod71alaska post above, and like him, I'm eat up with cabin fever from weather here since late Dec. I'm anxious to do lotta woods walking soon thru may, and I first dedicated that my Mod 94 Carbine would be my constant companion, but I'm done expecting the Mod 64 to dominate that. I've done got nearly every piece of 30-30 brass I have reloaded, and along with several boxes factory, I'm sure I got well over 1200rds, so I'll be shooting along way!

[348win]

It is interesting that the 64a looks like a cross model between straight stock LEVER and pistol grip LEVER

Pics above lever is quite straight

I look up an older 64 and lever has much more curve in it

I like the 64 series much more than the straight stock 94s
I'd like to get my hands on a 20" deluxe, never held a Winchester Deluxe model YET

[Drawdown]

You're right, the most obvious cosmetic difference I can see between a 64a n original 64 is the grip area. I can lay my 94 Carbine on top of my Centennial Model, and the wood angles really are about identical, except the bottom grip areas cap, and only slight curve in the Lever. But pics of original 64's, the grip shape n lever curve are full length, identical to a Mod 71. Regardless, I find my Centennial more natural to grip n shoot, but my main preference of the 64 in any model, is the 24" barrel, no barrel bands, and that perfect weight forward steady sighting without a long tube to achieve it, and most always makes for better accuracy in the field. This is something I learned long ago in what makes a truly personally accurate squirrel rifle, taking game shots at all angles from near straight up to very steeply downhill, 00's of shots a season. An object with enough weight out front, but not too heavy, is easier held steady on target, especially at trigger squeeze! I do love the looks of them all, no preference, appreciate em for their intent, but not function for my use, the design of the 64 lends itself to more consistency! Not to be forgotten the longer sight radius!
My best iron sight squirrel rifle by far has a 29" barrel, but my 26" barreled one, both CZ 452's, made plain as day the shorter barreled rifles I used in my youth look like little league rifles. As to a Carbine packing easier in woods, brush, n mountains? I've done this all my life, and I have no preferences for this purpose between an 18" barrel vs a 28" barrel, it's irrelevant! Only time I'd feel I'd be better off with a short barrel, is urban warfare, and that's not a consideration or need! Any the Mod 336 or Mod 94 type actions or several more similar such as the 92 n Marlin 94, they all pack near same, fist closed ability around it, makes good carrying!

[308magtip]

In herited one 64 delux pre 1964 in 32 win spcl cal. very mild and accurate with redfiel peepsights.d

[Drawdown]

Always wanted a 32 Spl in anything, but especially in a 64, you got a keeper!

[44shooter]

I have the one my dad and his siblings bought for my granddaddy. Very light for a full size rifle. It now wears a Williams peep I bought for my dad after he inherited it.

[Molasses]

Wow! This topic went a long time between posts.

Had to fire up the old desktop for this post because that's where the old photos are.

I've got both a 64A in .30-30 and 64 Deer Rifle in .32 Special. In fact, my 64A was the first centerfire rifle I owned. Love that configuration and it's probably not going to come as much of a surprise that I have also accumulated a few Marlins that are laid out somewhat like that as well. I'm not seeing range photos of the 64A on here, but I'll come back to put one up if I find some later. Model 64 that was already wearing an old Redfield M294 scope setup when I found it:

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Here's a couple of Marlins that are along the same lines:

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One from an unsuccessful hunt in 2015 with the 64 and a few from a hunt in 2014 with the 64A.

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There's a scrap of paper towel draped over the muzzle in this one to try and keep "white stuff" out of the bore:

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[Drawdown]

Excellent Molasses! Before I found my Winchester, I looked hard for a 336a in 35Rem, figuring I had better chance around here, than a Mod 64. I've known of a few 35Rem, but they're never for sale, but I've yet to find a 24" barreled 336a around here. But I've give up on it now since I found my Mod 64a. Looks like that buck just jumped up thru your stand and hung himself, before the 30-30 got a hold of him!