Winchester Model 94: Cerracote sacriledge?

tgreening · January 29, 2013, 06:18 PM

1978 model I believe and the finish is less than stellar. Any particular reason it would be considered an act of utmost evil if I sent it off and had it coated? Nothing goofy like Digital Urban C.O.D. Edition Camo, or anything like that, but something a bit more mundane.

Not that it really matters since it's my dang rifle and I'll do as I please anyway, but schools of thought and artistic ideas always entertained.

Sgt Pepper · January 29, 2013, 06:30 PM

Go for it! There really is no reason to not do so. Frankly, a LOT of Win '94 owners resort to home job spray paint, err coating, methods. A '78 vintage rifle (same year as mine btw) is not really a collector's item so much as a tool. I would treat it accordingly, and as such, I have been perusing various refinish options myself.

Strafer Gott · January 29, 2013, 06:36 PM

Just as long as you don't come up with something that is too cool for school, but too expensive to afford. Anything a little different helps the allure, e.g. the Mossberg 464SPX. Something in electric green metal with some decent wood might go pretty good. Perhaps that satin nickel finish like a Colt would set it off, or even that polished on grey on Ruger Super Redhawks.

Joe Chicago · January 29, 2013, 06:41 PM

Let us know how the Cerakote goes. And post before and after pics.

Hawg Haggen · January 29, 2013, 07:30 PM

I left mine as is. It ain't purdy but it shoots like a dream.

Chettt · January 29, 2013, 09:05 PM

That would be an act of utmost evil but its your 94.

johnwilliamson062 · January 29, 2013, 11:43 PM

It isn't like cerrakote is impossible to remove. I wouldn't worry about it. I probably would choose a color that matched one of the metallic finishes/platings.

Ricklin · January 30, 2013, 12:00 AM

I do believe that they make it in a deep blue-black.

radom · February 1, 2013, 05:13 AM

1978 94. Go for it as its not like it will be worth huge money in 130 years. It will be worth more if you do it now.

AK103K · February 1, 2013, 08:58 AM

I have an old 40's or 50's vintage 94 that was in really rough and neglected condition when I got it. I bead blasted and parkerized it. The wood cleaned up "OK", but still aint real pretty. Still a good shooter though.

gak · February 2, 2013, 02:16 AM

I say go for it. By the late 70s a lot of the 94s had really improved a lot over the earlier Post 64s. Sounds like yours may have not been as lucky. I'd go with a "kote" finish reasonably close to the factory finish when it was new (at least theoretically) - as someone else mentioned - the blue black if available. Others have had good luck "antiquing" them or color case hardening...But - your gun, whatever floats your boat sounds like would be an improvement!

Geezerbiker · February 2, 2013, 05:53 AM

I've been thinking of doing the same thing. I bought my 94 used and cheap. It's also a 1970s model that looks like it was carried a lot on one hand wrapped around the receiver. The bluing on the barrel is nice but it's half gone on the receiver. I was thinking of coating only the receiver on the 94 at the same time I coat one of my other rifles.

Tony

AK103K · February 2, 2013, 08:04 AM

Some of the Winchesters in that era, or sightly later, wont reblue properly anyway. The receivers were an alloy, and were very difficult, if not impossible to match the barrels when reblued. Winchester had some way of doing it, but having it redone the same later on was not an option.

I went through this with an early 80's Trapper when I broke the front sight off, and had different sights installed, requiring a gunsmith. It was the first 94 I had parked.

L_Killkenny · February 2, 2013, 10:35 AM

As AK stated, the 70's receivers were pretty well crap. I had a 16" trapper of that era that someone had painted the receiver and to tell the truth it looked pretty good. That is until it's first contact with cleaner. Bubbled and peeled to beat the band exposing all sorts of ugliness. This was before the availability of good gun coats and I traded the gun off. It's one of two guns that I wish I had never gotten rid of. Moral of the story? Cover it with something good and enjoy the beep outta it.

January 29, 2013, 06:18 PM	#1
tgreening Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2011 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 204	Winchester Model 94: Cerracote sacriledge? 1978 model I believe and the finish is less than stellar. Any particular reason it would be considered an act of utmost evil if I sent it off and had it coated? Nothing goofy like Digital Urban C.O.D. Edition Camo, or anything like that, but something a bit more mundane. Not that it really matters since it's my dang rifle and I'll do as I please anyway, but schools of thought and artistic ideas always entertained.

January 29, 2013, 07:30 PM	#5
Hawg Haggen Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 10,225	I left mine as is. It ain't purdy but it shoots like a dream. __________________ http://blackpowdertimes.com/index.php

January 29, 2013, 11:43 PM	#7
johnwilliamson062 Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 6,094	It isn't like cerrakote is impossible to remove. I wouldn't worry about it. I probably would choose a color that matched one of the metallic finishes/platings. __________________ $0 of an NRA membership goes to legislative action or court battles. Not a dime. Only money contributed to the NRA-ILA or NRA-PVF. Of course, you could just donate to the Second Amendment Foundation I was feeling pretty good, then I looked around and realized I am not swimming or on fire.

January 30, 2013, 12:00 AM	#8
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: North Orygun Coast Posts: 499	I do believe that they make it in a deep blue-black. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

February 1, 2013, 08:58 AM	#10
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Location: PA -- In the shadow of the Shade Posts: 7,069	I have an old 40's or 50's vintage 94 that was in really rough and neglected condition when I got it. I bead blasted and parkerized it. The wood cleaned up "OK", but still aint real pretty. Still a good shooter though. __________________ “The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he is on.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22 Zeitgeist - The movie

January 29, 2013, 06:30 PM	#2
Sgt Pepper Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 631	Go for it! There really is no reason to not do so. Frankly, a LOT of Win '94 owners resort to home job spray paint, err coating, methods. A '78 vintage rifle (same year as mine btw) is not really a collector's item so much as a tool. I would treat it accordingly, and as such, I have been perusing various refinish options myself.

January 29, 2013, 06:36 PM	#3
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 878	Just as long as you don't come up with something that is too cool for school, but too expensive to afford. Anything a little different helps the allure, e.g. the Mossberg 464SPX. Something in electric green metal with some decent wood might go pretty good. Perhaps that satin nickel finish like a Colt would set it off, or even that polished on grey on Ruger Super Redhawks.

January 29, 2013, 06:41 PM	#4
Joe Chicago Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2011 Location: Chicago area Posts: 277	Let us know how the Cerakote goes. And post before and after pics.

January 29, 2013, 09:05 PM	#6
Chettt Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2006 Posts: 201	That would be an act of utmost evil but its your 94.

February 1, 2013, 05:13 AM	#9
radom Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2000 Posts: 1,270	1978 94. Go for it as its not like it will be worth huge money in 130 years. It will be worth more if you do it now.

February 2, 2013, 02:16 AM	#11
gak Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Posts: 2,714	I say go for it. By the late 70s a lot of the 94s had really improved a lot over the earlier Post 64s. Sounds like yours may have not been as lucky. I'd go with a "kote" finish reasonably close to the factory finish when it was new (at least theoretically) - as someone else mentioned - the blue black if available. Others have had good luck "antiquing" them or color case hardening...But - your gun, whatever floats your boat sounds like would be an improvement!

February 2, 2013, 05:53 AM	#12
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 362	I've been thinking of doing the same thing. I bought my 94 used and cheap. It's also a 1970s model that looks like it was carried a lot on one hand wrapped around the receiver. The bluing on the barrel is nice but it's half gone on the receiver. I was thinking of coating only the receiver on the 94 at the same time I coat one of my other rifles. Tony

February 2, 2013, 08:04 AM	#13
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Location: PA -- In the shadow of the Shade Posts: 7,069	Some of the Winchesters in that era, or sightly later, wont reblue properly anyway. The receivers were an alloy, and were very difficult, if not impossible to match the barrels when reblued. Winchester had some way of doing it, but having it redone the same later on was not an option. I went through this with an early 80's Trapper when I broke the front sight off, and had different sights installed, requiring a gunsmith. It was the first 94 I had parked. __________________ “The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he is on.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22 Zeitgeist - The movie

February 2, 2013, 10:35 AM	#14
L_Killkenny Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,549	As AK stated, the 70's receivers were pretty well crap. I had a 16" trapper of that era that someone had painted the receiver and to tell the truth it looked pretty good. That is until it's first contact with cleaner. Bubbled and peeled to beat the band exposing all sorts of ugliness. This was before the availability of good gun coats and I traded the gun off. It's one of two guns that I wish I had never gotten rid of. Moral of the story? Cover it with something good and enjoy the beep outta it.