Winchester Model 1894
A timeless classic and the most popular hunting rifle in history, the Winchester Model 1894 was the first sporting rifle to sell over 1,000,000 units. This rifle was made to handle the longer 30-30 smokeless cartridge. The .30-30 Winchester is the cartridge was introduced in 1895. It was originally loaded with 30 grains of the new smokeless powder and was also known as the .30 WCF (for "Winchester Center Fire").
Manufacturing Changes
From 1894 to 1963 the Model 94 lever action rifle had been manufactured using high quality forged steel parts and stocked in genuine American black walnut. The metal finish was a highly polished blue and in the later part of that era the stock had a gloss finish. It was a very solid and handsome rifle, a legend in its own time, and an American icon. It was also the world's most popular sporting rifle, and still is with over 5,000,000 sold by 2001. Pre-1964 Model 94's are worth about 50% more than equivalent post 1964 models in similar condition on the used market.
In 1965 Winchester revised, for cheaper manufacture, their line of firearms including the model 94. The changes to the Model 94 were relatively minor, however, there was a loss of quality. The most visible of these was the shell carrier. The loading gate became a stamped and riveted part. Hollow steel roll pins, which looked cheap, replaced the solid steel action pins, however, a few years later they went back to solid pins. There are other changes as well.
More information is available from The Winchester Model 94 By Chuck Hawks
This model 94 was made around 1960 and has the glossy finish. It is a late example of a high quality pre-64 30-30
Time Line
- 1894 - First production year
- 1924 - renamed Model 55 -w- 24" round barrel & shotgun-style butt plate
- 1932 - renamed back to Model 94
- 1933 - Model 64 variation introduces 1933-1957
- 1965 - revised less expensive manufacture
- 1972 - bluing and finish improvements
- 1982 - angular shell case ejection
- 199x - change from half-cock notch safety to cross-bolt safety
- xxxx - change from cross-bolt to tang-mounted safety
Serial Numbers and DOM
Recent research has proven that the information published by George Madis (and copied by most other reference sources) is incorrect. For the correct answer concerning the production dates for the Model 1894/94, the Cody Firearms Musuem has complete records for serial numbers 1 - 353,999 (October 1894 - June 1907). For the later years (1907 - 1942), the original factory Serialization records are intact. To provide an example of how inaccurate the data is on the armscollectors.com website, the following verified information is provided:
1894 ended with 1,694
1895 ended with 14,222
1896 ended with 18,571
1897 ended with 33,108
1898 ended with 53,941 (the last true "Antique" Model 1894)
The information listed below this answer is not accurate.
Bert H.
Winchester 1894/94 Serial Number List
1894 began with serial number 1 and ended with 14,579.
1895 ended with number 44,359.
1896 ended with number 76,464.
1897 ended with 111,453.
1898 ended with number 147,684. This is the last number that is antique according to BATF regulations.
1899 ended with number 183,371.
1900 ended with number 204,427.
1901 ended with number 233,975.
1902 ended with number 273,854.
1903 ended with number 291,506.
1904 ended with number 311,363.
1905 ended with number 337,557.
1906 ended with number 378,878.
1907 ended with number 430,985.
1908 ended with number 474,241.
1909 ended with number 505,831.
1910 ended with number 553,062.
1911 ended with number 599,263.
1912 ended with number 646,114.
1913 ended with number 703,701.
1914 ended with number 756,066.
1915 ended with number 784,052.
1916 ended with number 807,741.
1917 ended with number 821,972.
1918 ended with number 838,175.
1919 ended with number 870,762.
1920 ended with number 880,627.
1921 ended with number 908,318.
1922 ended with number 919,583.
1923 ended with number 938,539.
1924 ended with number 953,198.
1925 ended with number 978,523.
1926 ended with number 997,603.
1927 ended with number 1,027,571.
1928 ended with number 1,054,465.
1929 ended with number 1,077,097.
1930 ended with number 1,081,755.
1931 ended with number 1,084,156.
1932 ended with number 1,087,836.
1933 ended with number 1,089,270.
1934 ended with number 1,091,190.
1935 ended with number 1,099,605.
1936 ended with number 1,100,065.
1937 ended with number 1,100,679.
1938 ended with number 1,100,915.
1939 ended with number 1,101,051.
1940 ended with number 1,142,423.
1941 ended with number 1,191,307.
1942 ended with number 1,221,289.
1943 through 1947 numbers are not available. The following serial numbers assume an equal number produced each year.
1943 ended with number 1,267,741.*
1944 ended with number 1,314,193.*
1945 ended with number 1,360,645.*
1946 ended with number 1,407,097.*
1947 ended with number 1,453,549.*
1948 ended with number 1,500,000.
1949 ended with number 1,626,100.
1950 ended with number 1,724,295.
1960 ended with number 2,469,821.
1963 ended with number 2,586,000. This was the end of the classic Winchesters made with hand-finished cast parts.
Numbers 2,586,001 through 2,699,999 were not used.
1964 began with 2,700,000 and ended with 2,797,428.
1965 ended with number 2,894,428.
1966 ended with number 2,991,927.
1967 ended with number 3,088,458.
1968 ended with number 3,185,691.
1969 ended with number 3,284,570.
1970 ended with number 3,381,299.
1980 ended with number 4,892,951.
Online Dates of Manufacture Lookup Tool
