The rebirth of the Model 94 Winchester................

Jeff Quinn · Post by **Jeff Quinn** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:48 pm

At least for now, two new limited edition rifles. No manual safety, angle-eject action; Press release:

Image links:
http://howardcommunications.com/images/ ... ade_lo.jpg
http://howardcommunications.com/images/ ... ade_lo.jpg

Model 94 – The Winchester Model 94 Returns PDF Print E-mail

Custom Grade

High Grade
JPG (lo-res) - JPG (hi-res)

JPG (lo-res) - JPG (hi-res)
Press Release Word Doc

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2009

The Winchester Model 94™ Returns.

Morgan, Utah –Winchester Repeating Arms is excited to announce the return of the Model 1894 lever action rifle to its line of firearms for 2010. This reintroduction of the most popular rifle in history will be offered in two Limited Edition models that will commemorate the 200th anniversary of Oliver F. Winchester’s birth in New England in 1810. A Model 1894 Custom Grade and Model 1894 High Grade will be offered in 30-30 Winchester caliber.

The Model 1894 began at the workbench of John M. Browning, being the first sporting rifle to use smokeless powder. It has been said that the Model 1894 has taken more deer than any other rifle in the world, and with over six million sold, has become by far, the most popular rifle in history. What better way to welcome back the timeless Winchester® Model 1894 than with a tribute to Oliver F. Winchester.

Model 1894 Custom Grade. Only 500 Custom Grade rifles in sets with the High Grade model will be offered. This rifle will have an exquisite 24” half-round, half-round octagon deeply blued barrel. A buckhorn rear sight is matched with a Marble’s® gold bead front sight. The Custom Grade model has Grade IV/V walnut with a rich, high gloss finish. Deep scroll engraving covers both sides of the blued receiver. An early Winchester Repeating Arms crest graces the left side of the receiver, with the right side bearing the words, “Two Hundred Years, Oliver F. Winchester,” and the dates “1810 – 2010”, in gold. The barrel is deeply polished, with the signature of Oliver F. Winchester in gold on the top of the bolt. “One of Five Hundred” is inscribed in gold on the barrel of the Custom Grade rifle.

Model 1894 High Grade. The Winchester Model 1894 High Grade also honors and commemorates the 200th anniversary of Oliver Fisher Winchester’s birth. This

model is deeply embellished with delicate scroll work, with Oliver F. Winchester’s signature in gold on top of the bolt. The left side of the receiver bears an early Winchester Repeating Arms crest. On the right side are the words, “Two Hundred Years, Oliver F. Winchester,” and the dates, “1810—2010.” The fancy Grade II/III walnut stock is enhanced with a high gloss finish and is delicately checkered, complementing the fine embellishments on the silver nitride receiver. The High Grade model is also chambered in the timeless 30-30 Winchester caliber with a deeply blued half-round, half octagon barrel. A buckhorn rear sight is fitted with a Marble’s gold bead front sight. 500 of the High Grade model will be sold as a set with the Custom Grade. The remaining limited quantities will be sold individually.

Delivery of these two commemorative rifles will begin starting in the 2nd quarter of 2010. Both models have 8 round magazine capacity, 42” overall length, 10” rate of twist with average weight at 8 lbs. The Model 1894 Custom Grade rifle has a Suggested Retail of $1,959.00. The Model 1984 High Grade rifle Suggested Retail is $1,469.00.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:54 pm

Cool!

Any idea where they will be made?

stew71 · Post by **stew71** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:59 pm

Perhaps at the FNM plant down in Columbia, SC?

And boy do those look purty.....major drool factor.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:16 pm

Beautiful rifle. If I could have changed two things, it would not be angle eject but top eject, and I'd have chambered it in 38-55.

Malamute · Post by **Malamute** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:17 pm

The barrel marking says Miroku.

The ones in the pictures have tang safeties.

Quality should be outstanding, if the Browning 1886's and 92's are anything to judge by.

Rimfire McNutjob · Post by **Rimfire McNutjob** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:27 pm

You'd think they could take the time to kick out a few unembelished versions in the $700 range for us common folk. I know the Miroku guns are top notch both externally and internally having had a Browning 65 for a time. But I can't see plopping down $1500 for some machine engraved Japanese iron that could just as easily be made here. Although, I suppose the USRAC folks couldn't achieve the quality of the Miroku guns while they were operating ... maybe I'm asking too much.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:44 pm

KirkD wrote:Beautiful rifle. If I could have changed two things, it would not be angle eject but top eject, and I'd have chambered it in 38-55.

+1

Kansas Ed · Post by **Kansas Ed** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:45 pm

KirkD wrote:Beautiful rifle. If I could have changed two things, it would not be angle eject but top eject, and I'd have chambered it in 38-55.

I'm betting you would have also had the forearm match the cap...but Miroku has never understood forearm wood have they.

Ed

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:04 pm

ANGLE EJECT...: A solution in search of a problem... Why 'they' choose to perpetuate it is beyond me.

I've noticed that USRAC didn't sell nearly as many AEs as they thought they might. Suppose there's a reason for that...?

Also noticed that the receiver contours DO NOT match the easy-in-the-hand contours of the pre-64 '94s.

Sadly, I'm not in the market for one of these.

jlchucker · Post by **jlchucker** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:24 pm

Pretty clever, the way they partially airbrushed out that tang safety. Had me hoping there for a minute, until I looked again, after reading Malamute's observation.

One thing about anybody that's ever had anything to do with marketing the Winchester name since 1964--they'll always find a tasteless way to screw up a once-classic product.

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:41 pm

It may be that the prototypes had tang safeties and they took them out thus the airbrush. It is clear that a poor photoshop blur job was done. They wouldn't have bothered if the safeties were going to be on the production rifles.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:42 pm

Well maybe its the beginning of things to come?

Course if the powers that be pay any attention to all the whinin

.........maybe the last we'll ever see and what a sad day that would be.

airedaleman · Post by **airedaleman** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:57 pm

Parts clean-ups. Yawn.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:02 pm

Here's my thinking on these two carbines:

Winchester Repeating Arms decides to release two commemorative types of the Winchester Model 94 carbine. Now who is the likely group that is going to buy these? Well, apart from the collectors of the commemoratives (who will buy anything that is a commemorative) I figure it is going to be all those fellows who, fueled by nostalgia, want a extra special Model 1894. Now recall that they are the boys who remember the great Winchester Model 1894 of the past. With that in mind, which type of rifle are these boys going to get more excited about, one that is faithful to the original (top eject, no tang safety, half-cock hammer, proper shape for the wood, etc.)? .... or a tang-safetied, angle eject poseur? I'm sure a lot of fellows will be pleased with the new offering they've actually come up with, but I can bet you that if Winchester Repeating Arms had grasped the marketing principle that Uberti has made money hand over fist on, and produced a hi grade Model 1894 faithful to the original, there would be a passel of guys reaching for their wallet so hard they'd plumb throw their shoulders out. It just beats me why Uberti makes such fine copies of Winchesters like the Winchester Model 1876 SRC while Winchester Repeating Arms sits blissfully by while the Italians steal their women out from under their very noses (figuratively speaking, of course).

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:07 pm

Kirk, that's always been a puzzlement to me, as well...

While we're at it, maybe we could get COLT'S to pay heed to what the Italians are doing, as well...

tman · Post by **tman** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:37 pm

saddle ring pre-64 carbines chambered in .38-55 and .356 winchester. NO ANGLE EJECT, NO EXTRA SAFETIES.

. AND SELL IT FOR UNDER 500.00 BUCKS. i don't want to sound like an ingrate, glad they are making 94's again

Kansas Ed · Post by **Kansas Ed** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:45 pm

What is that old saying about trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?
Ed

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:47 pm

Yep if they'd bring back the pre '64 you couldn't keep 'em on the shelves.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:49 pm

Rimfire McNutjob wrote:You'd think they could take the time to kick out a few unembelished versions in the $700 range for us common folk. I know the Miroku guns are top notch both externally and internally having had a Browning 65 for a time. But I can't see plopping down $1500 for some machine engraved Japanese iron that could just as easily be made here. Although, I suppose the USRAC folks couldn't achieve the quality of the Miroku guns while they were operating ... maybe I'm asking too much.

Exactly my thinking. Besides, we all know what 2g's will buy you in the way of an original---a very nice high condition standard 1894 rifle---which in my way of thinking, about 5 times the gun the japs are making. These old 1894's were made by the generation of Americans who went to fight in WW2 and had their heads lopped off by the japs.

I won't buy nothing made by them---yea I know, let it pass, but I won't.-----------Sixgun

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 5:25 pm

Sixgun wrote:
Rimfire McNutjob wrote:You'd think they could take the time to kick out a few unembelished versions in the $700 range for us common folk. I know the Miroku guns are top notch both externally and internally having had a Browning 65 for a time. But I can't see plopping down $1500 for some machine engraved Japanese iron that could just as easily be made here. Although, I suppose the USRAC folks couldn't achieve the quality of the Miroku guns while they were operating ... maybe I'm asking too much.

Exactly my thinking. Besides, we all know what 2g's will buy you in the way of an original---a very nice high condition standard 1894 rifle---which in my way of thinking, about 5 times the gun the japs are making. These old 1894's were made by the generation of Americans who went to fight in WW2 and had their heads lopped off by the japs.

I won't buy nothing made by them---yea I know, let it pass, but I won't.-----------Sixgun

I feel the same way about buying Chinese or any other communist made gun. I just will not do it.

Joe

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:00 pm

It's obvious that today's Winchester simply has no respect for their customers. You tell them what you want and they basically say, "That's fine, but here's what you're getting." Trust me, if FN ever loses it's lucrative US Military contracts, we will see a different attitude. Until then, expect to be taken for granted.

Instead of belittling myself by purchasing one of their "teasers", I would use that money to purchase three Marlins.

bogie

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:09 pm

10-4 Joe----------------Power to the American worker

---To heck with that foreign junk---------------------Sixgun

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:25 pm

I did a bit of research and given inflation, a Model 94 would probably cost about $700. Cut the price by $200 and that is a non-profit venture.

As you guys know, I'm all for buying the good old guns even at the seemingly inflated prices because you can't get a new gun that is as good for the price. IOW, I think collectible guns at the prices they fetch are often bargains (depending on model) as shooting guns because you can't get as good a new manufactured gun for their price.

The thing is that inflation is coming, real, heart-rending inflation. The government is printing money like mad and in just this year has cut the value of the dollar a huge amount (I think by half) which makes anything you buy like guns and ammo and real estate and (gold and silver almost as much so) look really good, particularly down the road when they will be worth what they are now albeit in inflated dollars. IOW, they might be worth twice as much in dollars but the same in gold/purchasing power of dollars. I'm not so sure these guns will be worth what the MSRP is.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:38 pm

KirkD wrote:Beautiful rifle. If I could have changed two things, it would not be angle eject but top eject, and I'd have chambered it in 38-55.

I'm with ya, Kirk.

william iorg · Post by **william iorg** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:39 pm

I read all the posts in the thread and had to think about it a bit.
I don’t believe Winchester had the consumers best interest at heart from the mid 1950’s on. Certainly by the mid 1960’s Winchester had their eye on military contracts and was not giving much thought to the sporting market.
When we look at USRA-Winchester you see a company and its advertising agency who either did not know who their customers were and how they used their guns or simply didn’t care. I certainly believe this is the case when the Model 94 and the Big Bore rifles are discussed.
I watched the 307 Winchester develop from its wildcat days in the late 1960’s and when it finally hit the market the rifle was a bit of a disappointment and the cartridge was undersold by the manufacturer, his advertising agency and the gun press.
As the rifle was safetied up and the quality of the rifle fell, the Model 94 lost ground rapidly to Marlin.
The rebounding hammer and long take-up trigger were a disaster and the cross bolt safety with its divot in the right side of the receiver seriously hurt the rifles popularity. As quality control fell off and the rifles began to have feeding issues Marline really began to control the market. When the tang safety arrived with the misfires due to poor fitting and adjustment of the hammer struts the rifle was finished. Even L.R. Wallack couldn’t sell low quality, tang safety Model 94’s

Now about the Angle-Eject feature, I like it. I like the option of mounting a scope and if Lyman would get on the stick and make a receiver sight for the rifle we would have a hunter.
I believe I have seen more out of the box good accuracy from the Angle Eject rifles than I have from any top eject Model 94, in any caliber. Complain about all of the lawyer stuff on the Model 94 and I am right there with you. The Angel eject feature is a pretty good idea and combined with the longer range cartridges like the 7-30 Waters and 307 Winchester we have a very useful combination.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:43 pm

I've yet to figure out why if the post 64 94's were such junk? Why then did they sell nearly twice as many between 1964 and the cessation of production , than they did between 1895 and 1964

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:51 pm

Baby boom Don. Baby boom.

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:51 pm

Another prime example of what is being discussed is the S&W "Classic's" series. Why would you pay $1000+ for a Model 17, with lock, when you could buy the original, near NIB, for 30-40% less?

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:07 pm

Could be Hobie, but then again..... USRAC sold nearly as many 94's as Winchester, and Winchester Olin did combined.

Sarge · Post by **Sarge** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:36 pm

I for one am glad to see Winchester selling 94's again, even of those 94's aren't something I'd run out and buy. They are pretty guns and while I don't care for the handling of the AE's, I'll side with William in that I have seen the best accuracy from AE guns...sometimes crazy accuracy for a lever-cranker.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x187 ... up94AE.jpg

This is good news Jeff and thanks for posting it. Like someone else said "At least it's a start."

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:40 pm

Hobie wrote:The thing is that inflation is coming, real, heart-rending inflation. The government is printing money like mad and in just this year has cut the value of the dollar a huge amount (I think by half) which makes anything you buy like guns and ammo and real estate and (gold and silver almost as much so) look really good ...

Hobie, you are right on the money. Just yesterday I was looking at a graph of the US dollar vs the Canadian dollar and the Euro over the past 120 days, and it has been in a steady decline ..... and I mean a very, very significant decline. Obama thinks he can just print money, but by doing so, he is destroying America's economy and devaluing the American dollar. In my mind, one of the most dangerous traitors to America since 1776 is Obama with his left-wing, socialist, incompetent policies. Most countries in the world are quietly selling off their reserves of US dollars, trying not to set off a selling panic. China is starting to build a very substantial gold reserve. If I were an American, I would be stashing away some gold and silver bullion and seriously thinking of buying a place in the country where I could grow/harvest/catch/hunt some food. Put your American dollars into food producing land, or food-buying gold and silver in small, easy to use weights and prepare to wait out the storm.

Sarge: In spite of my disappointment with the angle eject, I do agree with you. I'm glad to see them back in the saddle again, even if the cinch is a bit loose.

1894cfan · Post by **1894cfan** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:13 pm

Bogie35 wrote: Instead of belittling myself by purchasing one of their "teasers", I would use that money to purchase three Marlins.

bogie

+1

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:28 pm

Not excited over them. My next new rifle will be another Marlin.

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:02 pm

I have a Winchester 1894 30-30 rifle with a half round barrel, express sight and button magazine thats been "restored". It was made in 1915. You think these new rifles will make it worth more?

CEMENTHEAD · Post by **CEMENTHEAD** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:11 pm

It's pretty and it's a 94, however it leaves me cold. I'd rather know that someone here in the U.S. busted his knuckles building it. I'll take a 94 from New Haven anyday. Just my $.02. Thanks, Tom

Sarge · Post by **Sarge** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:59 pm

KirkD wrote:
Sarge: In spite of my disappointment with the angle eject, I do agree with you. I'm glad to see them back in the saddle again, even if the cinch is a bit loose.

Kirk,

Please....ANYTHING but a loose cinch. I took a quarter horse straightaway from another rider once, pointed it down a 350 yard chat driveway & pressed on the throttle....found the loose cinch at about 30 mph. Then the horse decided he wanted to turn onto the rock road at full tilt and head for the barn, two miles away. Me & the horse survived but only because good reins don't break & guardian angels ride a tight second seat.

I don't see myself buying one of these new 94's regardless...I just like the older stuff better and am far more likely to throw any gun money in that direction.

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:31 am

As others have said --- i wouldnt mind seeing a real firearm, rather than the commemorative stuff (although technically this is a real firearm, i know --- just like all the Illinois Sesquicentennial and Crazy Horse commemoratives etc etc etc that i run across)

Please, plain blue -- maybe a case hardened receiver if you must (make it look good please) - and nice wood. I would probably dig into my wallet for one then. I probably will not ever buy a tang safety tho because it would preclude the use of a tang sight if i want to --- but i have nothing against the AE feature.

Sigh --- one can dream. And while i am dreaming, i will ask for it to be trapper length in .41 Magnum too

Aussie Chris · Post by **Aussie Chris** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:18 am

Now that is a very pretty looking '94. I like the nickle plated one, and yeah shame she is an angle eject.

KirkD and Kimwcook, here is one of my commemoratives made in 1980. She is in 38-55 and is top eject with an octagonal 24'' barrel. This is the original Oliver F Winchester Commemorative..

Chris

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:27 am

Streetstar wrote: I probably will not ever buy a tang safety tho because it would preclude the use of a tang sight if i want to ---

Marbles offers a tang sight(windage adjustable) for the Winchesters with tang safety,

KCSO · Post by **KCSO** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:45 am

If you add in a reboundig hammer that only fires the gun 8 out of 10 times I will have to say I am not interested. I would rather buy an old one and fix it up to suit. A angle eject, tang safety rebounding hammer M94 is a poor substitute for a classic rifle.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:21 am

KCSO wrote:If you add in a reboundig hammer that only fires the gun 8 out of 10 times I will have to say I am not interested.

What sort of drizzlinshxts ammo do you use to get that sort of a failure rate?

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:23 am

Here is another thought about the Miroku made 94s. They will be metric.
Just like the Browning and Miroku made 86's, 92's, 95's, etc they will not be American threaded.
What that means is that virtually none of the new parts will interchange with the American made guns.
How long do you think Browning / Winchester will keep parts in stock for the American made guns?
Not long. If we're lucky they'll be wholesaled off to Numrich ... if we're lucky.

Joe

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:24 am

I'm just not willing to put out that kind of cash for the new, reintroduced 94; however, I understand why they are doing it -- reintroduction, bang the drums etc.. I'll wait to see if they come out with a line around $500.00 to $700.00 and maybe get one just to have a reintroduced 94 on hand.

I already have a battery of 94s and don't really need another 94 but then again, what has need ever had to do with it when it comes to guns.

As to the end of the line tang safety, Model 94AE, I have one in .30-30 and it is a good, solid, accurate carbine. When I first got it, I did experience the occasional mis-fire with it but solved that problem by taking it apart and polishing all of the parts in the trigger group.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:32 am

They look like there very nice rifles....
BUT
if its made in japan....they can keep'em....

Its an American Icon and should be made here....

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:55 am

Just a WAG, but from the msrp they've stuck on this Commerative, with all the engraving,inlays and fancy wood, I'm thinking the street value on a standard rifle would be 600 +-. Sure do hope they see fit to bring them back and chambered in 25-35 as an option.

william iorg · Post by **william iorg** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:11 pm

“What sort of drizzlinshxts ammo do you use to get that sort of a failure rate?”

Some of the late cross bolt safety Model 94’s and many of the tang safety Model 94’s experienced light strikes and miss fires due to the hammer strut fingers being adjusted improperly. The upper strut finger starts the hammer forward and then the lower finger actually begins to slow the hammer as it head toward the firing pin. These parts are best fitted when they are installed for best reliability.
As USRA-Winchester quality deteriorated there were quite a few more complaints over feeding issues and miss-fires. USRA-Winchester helped Marlin sales immeasurably.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:39 pm

My ammo is just fine, but my USRAC 1886L misfires maybe 1 out of a dozen....kind of depressing

It's on the backburner, and may end up a 50-110 someday, or at the very least slicked up with all the correct parts so it don't do that anymore.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:01 pm

Hmmm I've got 2 rebounding hammer 94 ae's (both prior to the idiot switch) and the new model 95 with the tang safety. If there's been ANY misfire its always been traceable to a bad primer,or some screw up in the reloading process, all three rifles have several thousand rounds thru them.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:38 pm

BlaineG wrote:My ammo is just fine, but my USRAC 1886L misfires maybe 1 out of a dozen....kind of depressing It's on the backburner, and may end up a 50-110 someday, or at the very least slicked up with all the correct parts so it don't do that anymore.

Dave Scovill wrote a piece in Rifle a few years back about how he solved that problem on his 86. Was fairly simple deal just clipped a couple coils off of one of the springs.
If I have time I'll look and see if I can find it, you should be able to email him at Rifle and get the number of the back issue or maybe even just the simple instructions from him.

buckeyeshooter · Post by **buckeyeshooter** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:53 pm

This is exactly as predicted. The 94 will now be made as the deluxe "non-catalogued" guns offered yearly like the 1886, 1895 and 92 have been. Fit and finish will be better, there will be some interesting offerings and the price will stay $1500 or over. This way the limited runs will pay for themselves. I still say you are dreaming on a 94 for regular production for $700.00. This 'formula' has made money with the other guns out of production, its only logical to see the same marketing approach with this gun.