Winchester Model 94 - Model 1894

Winchester name brand and the Model 1894 go hand and hand.  Designed by John M. Browning in 1893 specifically to be a perfect match for the new 30-30,  which was smokeless cartridge. It was a culmination of the evolution of Winchester lever actions and proving to be an extremely versatile rifle.

One of the most notable changes occurred in the 1960s when production costs of the earlier Model 94 design increased dramatically, the company made the decision to find less expensive methods of production or face pricing itself out of the hunting market, which made up a large percentage of retail sales.  they chose stamped sheet metal and roll pins for parts previously machined from solid steel.

Most of the shortcomings of the post 1963 Model 94s were eventually corrected, but the pre '64 versions remain the most desirable of all Winchester Model 94s.

The post-64 Winchester model 94 begin with serial number 2,700,000.
Additionally, competition from other manufacturers like Marlin with their model 336, lever action, Winchester changed over from a top eject to an angle eject.  The reason for this significant changes was now, with the increased popularity of receiver mounted scopes, it was necessary as the older, top eject did not allow for a traditionally mounted scope.  This Angle Eject redesign was produced in 1983 at about serial number 5,300,000.

The Winchester Model 94 was  produced by Winchester Repeating Arms Company through 1980 and then by U.S. Repeating Arms under the Winchester brand until they ceased to manufacture rifles in 2006.  Winchester has revived the model 94 and currently produces an 1894 since around 2012

Over the years the Winchester Model 94 was available in many different calibers, for example: the .22 magnum, .38 Special/.357 Magnum, .44 Special/.44 Magnum, .45 Colt (or .45 Long Colt), .38-40 Winchester, and .44-40 Winchester, .410 shotgun, 30-30 caliber (30 WCF), and even as large as the .450 Marlin, which the rifle was able to accept due to an extremely strong receiver.

Winchester Model 94 Serial Numbers

In 1894  Production began with Serial Number 1 and the Winchester Model 94 Serial Numbers run more or less, sequentially.