What's the Big Deal About Pre-64 Win's
I've got a chance to own a pre-64 Winchester 1894 .30-30 lever action. Is this made that much better than the new ones?
http://www.libertybelles.org
http://www.libertybelles.org
0
-
There sure is, between 1964 and 1985 they're crap.If you can get one of each side by side and compare finish on the receiver and the action smoothness you'll see.The 64 to 85 receivers can't be re-blued.[:)] 
0 -
great Stuff.
I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.0 -
The 64-85 receivers were made of ductile iron instead of steel.
This is a very strong material but I (and many others)prefer traditional materials on traditional guns.0 -
Are you talking about the pre-64 model 70, or the "94" lever action Winchester, that won the west? If you are referring to the pre 64 model 70, it is by far the most reliable, best made, and best looking bolt action arm ever made by Winchester, or any other manufacturer, period! In my humble opinion.
I have several pre 64's, in just about any caliber you can imagine, and I shoot them all. Most of them have been handed down from my father, and I plan to hand them down to my children and grand children as well. Not too many firearms out there, that can hold that position thru that much history, and into the future as well.
If you get the chance to have one, by all means don't pass it up, and if you decide to actually pass it up, give me a call, and I will purchase it, no questions asked!
Good luck,
BigBarn[:o)]
"Respect the land, and it will respect you"0 -
Well I'm just chiming in to give my opinion on the pre-64 Model 70's. I have one that has been handed down from my grandfather who bought it new through a Montgomery Wards catolog in 1940. It is a great gun and a real heirloom that I would never part with, that said I sure wouldn't pay what they are asking for another one. All my other Winchester Model 70's are newer production and I gotta tell ya I'm very happy with them. Personally I think it's just nostalgic to own a pre-64.
Admittedly there were some production years that ATF pointed out that lacked in quality but I have to say I've got a Winchester Model 70 Lightweight Rifle in 30/06, pushfeed, Win Tuff laminated stock. This gun has been hunted HARD and still performs flawlessly, and shoots 1" groups at 100 yards, it is about a 1986 manufacture.
I sure wouldn't pay the premium for a pre-64 to hunt with and then worry all the time about dinging or scratching it.
Just me though, I hunt with these guns, if you want to collect them and polish them get the pre-64.[;)]0 -
What happened to Winchester in 1964? Did the company change hands or decide to use cheaper manufacturing methods and materials,or what? I've always heard the pre64s were better,but never heard the why. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by rimfire72
What happened to Winchester in 1964? Did the company change hands or decide to use cheaper manufacturing methods and materials,or what? I've always heard the pre64s were better,but never heard the why.
No, Winchester did not change ownership until 1981. What did happen is this...
During the year 1964, Winchester changed their manufacturing methods in an effort to save money. Specifically, for the Model 94, they went from forged steel parts & frame, to sintered cast steel. They also began using new machinery that was capable of stamping out parts that were essentially the same size (prior to this, each part was individually milled and checked against a gauge, then it was further hand fitted to the individual gun). With the new machinery in use, they opened up all of the tolerances slightly, and all hand fitting & polishing was eliminated. This same practice carried over to the stock making & fitting. The barrels continued to be manufactured in the same manner as before, so accuracy was not measurably changed. Similar cost saving changes occurred in all of the different models in production at the time.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
Thanks for the info,Bert. 0 -
Remington started the trend toward stamped parts and cost cutting on their rifles and the other makers were basically forced to follow suit or go out of business. The Model 30 tht Remington was trying to use to compete with Winchester was a fine rifle, I have one of them. It was a civilian version of the 1917 Enfield and was a great rifle but forging and machine work cost money big time. They figured out during the war that you could take a steel tube, do a minimun of machine work on it and make a very good receiver at much lower costs. And that was how the Model 700 family came about. It took a little while to work the kinks out but they did and now have one of the more popular rifles in the world. I had one of the very first Model 700's(made in the first year-serial number was 3xxx) andd it was rough to say the least but it was accurate. Winchester and anyone else making rifles had to follow suit because of the price difference in their rifles. The new 700's are fine rifles but not as smooth as the Model 30's. As for the Model 70 Winchester I love them but the price difference is still the reason the 700 is more popular-not that it is a better rifle. I have a problem with the model 70's made in the early 60's because Winshester was costing cutting labor to try to compete with Remington and their workmanship was spotty at best. They were having to adjust a lot of rifles after they were completed. Because of this, the late 62 thru 64 rilfes were practically handbuilt. The pre-war model 70 is way on smoother than the post war 70's because of this problem. My experience anyway. 0 -
Another cost cutting measure done by Winchester was dropping what remained of their fine .22 rifles. Having already dropped the 62, 63, 72, and 75 in 1958 and '59, the 67, 69a and 61 were summarily eliminated due to the cost of machining and fitting. These classic firearms were replaced by models that were pathetically bad in comparison. Winchester did what they felt they had to do to save their competitive niche in the marketplace-and look what it got the company. -Asa 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
10 comments