1906 Winchester 1894

[salvo]

Dropped by one of my favorite gun shops today just to look around, did not plan to buy anything just wasting some time between appointments. I spotted a couple of nice Winchesters on the rack and looked them over. I new that I had to have this one, it was a little cheaper than the other one, who ever was pricing them was not the sharpest tool in the shed, while the other had nicer wood it was refinished and it did not have the smokeless sight this one has. They were both .32’s
Not a boogered screw can be found and the take down is rock solid. The barrel cleaned up nice and has great rifling. The action is very tight also and has a beautiful trigger!

Wile I have a safe load of pre 64, 94’s It has a few first’s for me, my first take down, first octagon barrel, cresent butt plate 94 and first .32! Been looking for this rifle for quite awhile.

The shop had it marked at $1,500.00 but I was able to talk them down to $1,200.00 out the door including back ground check and taxes. Hope I did OK? it was spur of the moment and I have not been pricing them lately, have not bought a lever for over a year or more. Sure should have not spent the money but the old girl whispered in my ear!

Now I need brass, dies and a few load recipes and I’ll be set.
Any thoughts on favorite powders, bullets and worth would be appreciated.

On with the pictures

[Mike D.]

Congrats, Scott, I think you did very well.

[FWiedner]

A very handsome rifle. Nice lines.

[Sixgun]

Salvo,
You did real good as your rifle is used, and not abused. Nice clean lines, no pitting, and good looking wood. Its also nice to see the rifle still wears the original "smokeless 32 Spl." sight and that itself is worth several c-notes. I bought an exact twin to that a few years back and I believe I paid 11 for it. There's a bit more receiver blue on mine but not much more.

In mine I use the RCBS 170 grain gas check bullet in front of 21 grains of 5744 for about 1800. It mostly shoots into about 3" but sometimes the gun decides it wants to shoot 5". It won't shoot jacketed worth a hoot. Sometimes you get inconsistent accuracy with takedown rifles, especially if there's a bit looseness. If yours is loose in any way, just pop off the forearm wood and you will see 3 little screws in there. Turn each one about a 16th of an inch or until you get the tightness you want.-----------Sixgun

[BC in TN]

Your new rifle is really, really nice. I'm sure you're going to enjoy it.

[pokey]

nice

[salvo]

Thanks guys and Sixgun I'll try working up that load. I don't cast so I'll have to find something close. Luckily the take down locks up tight, good to know how to adjust it though!

[twobit]

Salvo wrote:

while the other had nicer wood it was refinished

The wood on this rifle has also been sanded and refinished. It would be extremely uncommon for
a rifle of this vintage to have the amount of bluing worn off the receiver yet have unmarked wood.
In addition, the upper corners of the stock fit the receiver at the upper tang poorly due t osanding.

It should be fine to shoot for sure.

Michael

[salvo]

Twobit you may be right, but the wood is far from perfect, a little conditioner and the right camera angles do wonders in the pictures
A little shrinkage in the wood at the tang area is fairly common after 105 years too.

[Griff]

Twobit you may be right, but the wood is far from perfect, a little conditioner and the right camera angles do wonders in the pictures
A little shrinkage in the wood at the tang area is fairly common after 105 years too.

Given the darkness in the wrist, I think shrinkage is more likely the culprit than sanding. A closer view of the buttplate will tell the tale tho'.

I would say that rifle has been carried in the hand far, far more than it ever saw a scabbard, (if ever). Nice honest TD with all the original features left intact. Salvo, you did good.

[the telegraphist]

Well done salvo, you did good, very nice rifle indeed.

[Old Savage]

I have begun the aging process with some rifles acquired new from about 1990 to 2010.

[Aussie Chris]

Nice Takedown! It looks fantastic and such a good price! Great blueing left on the barrel and mag tube, the one I just bought I paid a bit more for but yours is a fair bit nicer.

Well done

Chris

[Borregos]

Nice one salvo

[rangerider7]

I likey!

[damienph]

Very, very nice.

[salvo]

I have begun the aging process with some rifles acquired new from about 1990 to 2010.

Someone has got to do it

[jlchucker]

Sixgun has recommended a good bullet choice for you. The 32 Special has a good reputation for being a good cast bullet shooter, and the RCBS bullet is one of the few choices on the market for it. You'll need to work up a load, but there's plenty of data available for that task. Sixgun has also recommended 5744 as a powder choice. That's a favorite of mine for cast bullets in a couple of calibers. You could even try black powder, since Winchester seems to have developed that caliber with the idea that customers would reload their factory rounds with black powder back around 1905 or so. There must have been lots of whitetails killed with black powder 32 special reloads back when your rifle was made. Nice looking gun you have there!

[Bob Winchester]

Nice looking rifle! I'm green with envy!

[Ysabel Kid]

So cool!!! congrats Scott!

[Pete44ru]

EXCELLANTE' ! ! I only wish I could age as gracefully.

Methinks a judicious application of Howard's Feed 'N Wax will make it "pop".

.

[kimwcook]

Beautiful rifle. I think you done good.

[salvo]

Who sells Howard's Feed 'N Wax?