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?
My guess is that the "classics" will still be built in the future (keep in mind that the patents on them expired decades ago, its' the name that's copyrighted), but it'll be done in Belgium or Japan under the Browning name, which FN owns outright.
I think I'm going out to buy a Winchester Classic or pre 64 in a .308 or a 30-06 this week.
I may go out and buy a few more shotguns too.
Glad I bought a couple, including a never fired bicentenial special edition, just after the news hit.
Which is historically inaccurate, as it was the model 1873 Winchester that "Won the West."
A gun store owner I talked to said they're still going to market ammunition and reloading supplies under the Winchester name.
PING!
It'll probably cost you. The shop that I bought mine from had one left, built in 1950 and in 30-30win, for about $950.
Owned by Browning Arms, a company founded by John Browning, the inventor of the Model 94.
One of the replica makers will be making Model 94s within a year, and making them better than Winchester has since WWII.
SO9
My understanding is that Olin owns the Winchester brand name and makes the ammo, but had a contract with U.S. Repeating Arms to manufacture rifles under the Winchester name.... that contract is due to expire next year anyway, whether this came about or not.
The fact that you can keep topping off the magazine from loose rounds is a great feature. Shoot one, load one, and still have those in the mag available just in case.
Had a model '92 .25-20 caliber when I was a kid. Pawned it to buy a wedding present for my friends sister, never got it back.
Do you want to sell it? LOL.
I have one in .32 special with a serial number around 1.8 million. A hand-me down. Shot my first two whitetails with it, dropped them both where they stood, both shots at around 40 yards. Someone suggested I not hunt with it anymore, cause of its age/value. I now have other Winchesters, Remingtons, and a Sako to use.
googled for a link to a photo but to no avail...
Fortunately, I got my model 70 about fifteen or so years ago. It is not a pre 64 but a very good rifle that has done everything I needed it to do. The .270 has been just right for me, but now it sits in my guncase waiting for me to give it to an heir. Having lost my right eye to retinal detachment, I have been unable to shoot for the past few years. It has taken deer, bobcat and turkey. The reason for the turkey is the fall turkey season that runs parallel with deer in Virginia. Rifle is permitted.
That is more than anyone wants to know, but I do love my Winchester. I also own two Winchester Model 12 shotguns.
And the 1885, 1892, 1895, 1897 and many many more, effectively every Winchester between 1885 and 1900 except the Lee Navy straight pull rifle.
So9
The only lever action I have now is a Marlin model 94CL in 32-20. For any performance it is necessary to reload as the factory ammo is really weak.
Interesting read.
I used to work for Marlin, another New Haven rifle maker.
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