Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Barrel length ?? Win 94 manf in 1909

BlueTic
My neighbor has a Winchester 94 ser #4070xx made 1909 I think. His is in 32 special and about 40% cosmetic condition - all parts are in working order, BUT - His barrel seems short for a standard rifle. It has the cap on the end of the forestock and the half band that conects the round barrel to the receiver tube but looks to be about 20" and even with the end of the tube. The barrel's brownish/silver patina matches the rest of the receiver, but has old marks as if someone had removed it or tried to remove it. I told him it looks as if someone wanted a shorter barrel and cut it down then dovetailed for the front sight again. Don't all the carbines have a barrel band around the forestock and barrel - with a band around the end of the barrel to the receiver tube??? After typing all this - I went over and measured the barrel - 20" (with threads) and it does not look modified or cut - It has Marbles front sight and an odd 50-100yrd adjustible rear sight made by Winchester and says Smokeless 32 special on the side of the rear sight. The only pattend date is 1894 on the barrel. Looking through the Bluebook I'm guessing it is around 40-50% placing it around $575.00 roughly, but I still am wondering if the standard rifle had a 20" barrel

IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)<P>
0

Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • gskyhawk
    sounds like a eastern carbine or saddle ring carbine ,, around these parts they don't seem to bring as much as they use too [:(]
    0
  • wundudnee
    There were 20" rifles produced. Aproximately 1 in 3,000 were short barreled rifles. You would have to have an expert look it over for you to verify it as authentic. I had a 20" 32 spc. that I never did get a satisfactory answer on. That rear sight was made specifically for the 32 spc. The Winchester records for that time period were lost, so you can't get it lettered. Measurements of the barrel, magazine, forearm etc, can sometimes give you a clue if it's an actual "short rifle". Bert H. will probably be along shortly and guide you in the right direction on identifying this rifle.

    ....................
    Whenever I see a cow eat grass, I am reminded that "This too shall pass."............ Baxter Black
    0
  • Bert H.
    Hello BlueTic...

    Something sounds very fishy to me about it.

    The standard Model 1894 Sporting Rifle barrel length at that time was 26-inches. However, shorter barrels could be special ordered in OCTAGON form only (which is why this one seems fishy). Measure the location of the front sight dovetail slot... it should be exactly 15/16" from the muzzle to the center of the slot. The barrel should have an uncrowned muzzle, and the magazine tube retention ring should be located exactly 3-1/2" from the muzzle to the front edge of the ring.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
    0
  • BlueTic
    Thanks - I'll have to catch him after work and measure those. That sounds about right as far as front sight to muzzle and no crown, but I'll check..

    IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity