Posted on 02/19/2006 5:23:09 PM PST by Lorianne
Traditional Winchester rifles, including the famous Model 94, will no longer be produced when the plant in New Haven, Conn., closes March 31.
Modern, high-end rifles bearing the Winchester name will be produced in Belgium, Japan and Portugal, according to Robert Sauvage, a spokesman for the Herstal Group, the Belgium company that owns U.S. Repeating Arms and the rights to the Winchester name.
The Model 1894 appeared on the American scene in August 1895 and changed the world of shooting almost overnight.
It was chambered for the .30-30 and .25-35 cartridges. You could get the lever action in a rifle with a 26-inch barrel or as a carbine with a 20-inch barrel. The cost was only $18. Today, the original Model 1894 in excellent condition will bring in the vicinity of $1,500, according to Stoeger’s Gun Trader’s Guide.
It’s interesting to note with Winchester rifles manufactured before 1918 that the date of manufacture was used as the model number. So Winchesters produced before 1918 would be called the Model 1894. After 1918 Winchester went to a two-digit model number and the Model 1894 became known as the Model 94.
Early Model 1894 Winchesters, those made before 1918, came in other calibers including the .32-40, .32 Special and .38-55.
Most had a seven-shot tubular magazine and some came with a 4-shot or half magazine. The gun came with round, octagon or half-octagon barrels.
While the .30-30 cartridge was not the first smokeless cartridge developed, it was the first smokeless “sporting” cartridge of its time. The 160 grain jacketed bullet left the muzzle of the Model 1894 at a speedy 1,970 feet per second. Fast for those early days.
The Winchester Model 94 is without a doubt the most recognizable rifle of all time. Various editions have been presented to dignitaries, and one with the serial number 1,000,000 was presented to President Calvin Coolidge. Another, with the serial number 1,500,000 was given to President Harry Truman.
Today serial numbers have surpassed 5,000,000.
A western movie wouldn’t be a western movie if the likes of Gary Cooper, Tex Ritter, Rex Allen, Randolph Scott, Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry, Roy Rodgers and the Lone Ranger didn’t carry a Model 94 in their saddle scabbard.
While John Wayne carried the Model 1892 (Model 92) in many of his early movies, he began carrying a Model 94 with the hoop finger lever in the film True Grit.
It’s no doubt the value of even the newer Model 94’s will escalate in price. The price suggested for the Winchester 94 Legacy in Shooter’s Bible is suggested at $485 for the round barrel and $882 for the octagon barrel.
If you have an older Model 94, say pre-WWII and with a serial number less than 1,300,000, it will get around $1000. A Model 94 pre-1964 with serial number below 2,700,00 will bring more than $600.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Winchester could be bought back by an American company, produced in the same plant in New Haven that once employed 19,000 during WWII? This way the “Gun the Won the West” could ride back onto the American scene like Harley-Davidson?
NRA - PING
This is too bad! I have a beautiful Model 64 that used to belong to my grandfather. It was his 'Pride & Joy', mine too :-)
My Grandfather's "94 Winchester 30-30 was my favorite. I tagged a lot of whitetail with that rifle. I'm going to have to get one for the gun cabinet now even if I never shoot it.
Another American icon that's now foreign-owned.
*sigh*
Why is this happening?
Of the maybe dozen I have owned, the best one was a Sears "Ted Williams" which I bought as I was leaving a gun show. A guy parked beside my car and was getting three guns out.
I asked how much he wanted for them and he said he would take $90 for all three. One was a rusted out Mosin Nagant, another was a fair single barrel 12 guage, and the third was the 94.
It was in fairly good shape and had a Willams foolproof peep sight installed. It was unusually accurate for a 94, usually going into an inch at 50 yards. Also just seemed smoother than most. Wish I had kept it.
I'm sure these weapons can be made much cheaper in China.
I'm not really up to speed on this, but I'd have supposed there continued to be a good market for the Model 94, which I believe is an inexpensive, but well made all around rifle.
I've got an old Marlin 336, which is quite similar and still made. I think you can buy a new one for around $350.
End of an American institution. Would have been nice if another manufacturer had bought it.
I have a Marlin lever action in .357 magnum but not a Winchester, though I did get years ago 3 model 70's, 7mm, 300WM, .375 H&H. Got them cherried out with muzzle brakes.
Good grief, these are the rifles that literally won the West due to their ease of operation, high accuracy and low maintenance. I've fired several versions of this rifle and remain convinced that this classic firearm is dificult to improve upon.
This is a tragedy.
I suspect union labor costs and their stupid short magnum ammunition fiasco.
Marlin makes a better 30-30 anyway.
Ruger M77 Mark II's and Remington 700's are really cleaning Winchesters clock on quality and price.
Anyone heard if Olin is going to license the Winchester name to another manufacturer?
I heard a vicious rumor about China.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.