Winchester Model 94, how old?

bbrins · June 24, 2005, 09:51 PM

I just purchased a Winchester Model 94 from the estate of a Catholic priest that passed away a couple months ago, actually the same day that the pope died. Does anyone have information on how old it might be? The serial number is 13219XX. Also would this rifle have come with a hood over the front sight? It looks like there is a groove for one. I only paid $100 for it even after offering way more. Before he died, he gave me an M1 Carbine and a 1903A3.

joab · June 24, 2005, 10:35 PM

According to the Blue Book it was made sometime between 1943 and 1948 no records are available for those years.

1942 started with 1221289 so based on the semi arbitray number of 33,500 units a year that would put it around 1945.

But if you use another semi arbitrary number of 55300 units it would put it at about early 1944

DucksOnThePond · June 24, 2005, 11:04 PM

you can also use this website oldguns.net to look up dates for winchester.

joab · June 24, 2005, 11:20 PM

The year of manufacture for serial number 1321911 is Between 1943 and 1948..

No records are available form 1943 - 1948.

bbrins · June 24, 2005, 11:30 PM

Thanks, it's a little older than I was thinking. Also, thanks for the link.

**Johnny Guest** · June 27, 2005, 04:07 PM

It appears they estimate that 1949 began with 1500000.

joab wrote that 1942 started with 1221289.

We know that Winchester was up to their necks in war production by that time, and that few, if any, sporting arms were produced during the war years. They PROBABLY resumed postwar production with serial numbers not a great deal higher than 1221289 - - Maybe right where they left off, or perhaps with some nice, even number llike 1250000.

If you sent in the $50 fee to the Cody Museum for as historical letter, I bet it would document your '94 as 1947 or so.

Best estimate - - -

Johnny

joab · June 27, 2005, 05:18 PM

Quote:

If you sent in the $50 fee to the Cody Museum for as historical letter, I bet it would document your '94 as 1947 or so.

A friend did that his letter read

Quote:

The year of manufacture for serial number xxxxxxx is Between 1943 and 1948..

No records are available form 1943 - 1948.

My figure came from just averageing the number of guns made in the period divided by the number of years, it's all I could think of at the time. But we know that those numbers would not be consistant through those years

Quote:

It appears they estimate that 1949 began with 1500000.

150000 was the first gun made in '48, it was presented to Pres Truman to signal the restart of normal production

June 24, 2005, 09:51 PM	#1
bbrins Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2001 Posts: 149	Winchester Model 94, how old? I just purchased a Winchester Model 94 from the estate of a Catholic priest that passed away a couple months ago, actually the same day that the pope died. Does anyone have information on how old it might be? The serial number is 13219XX. Also would this rifle have come with a hood over the front sight? It looks like there is a groove for one. I only paid $100 for it even after offering way more. Before he died, he gave me an M1 Carbine and a 1903A3.

June 24, 2005, 10:35 PM	#2
joab Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2002 Location: Orl Fla Posts: 3,254	According to the Blue Book it was made sometime between 1943 and 1948 no records are available for those years. 1942 started with 1221289 so based on the semi arbitray number of 33,500 units a year that would put it around 1945. But if you use another semi arbitrary number of 55300 units it would put it at about early 1944 __________________ Joab the Bugman Founding member- Lords of Pomposity It's a Yankee Doodle thing Last edited by joab; June 27, 2005 at 05:19 PM.

June 24, 2005, 11:20 PM	#4
joab Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2002 Location: Orl Fla Posts: 3,254	The year of manufacture for serial number 1321911 is Between 1943 and 1948.. No records are available form 1943 - 1948. __________________ Joab the Bugman Founding member- Lords of Pomposity It's a Yankee Doodle thing

June 27, 2005, 04:07 PM	#6
Johnny Guest Moderator Emeritus Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,115	Narrowing it just a bit more - -- It appears they estimate that 1949 began with 1500000. joab wrote that 1942 started with 1221289. We know that Winchester was up to their necks in war production by that time, and that few, if any, sporting arms were produced during the war years. They PROBABLY resumed postwar production with serial numbers not a great deal higher than 1221289 - - Maybe right where they left off, or perhaps with some nice, even number llike 1250000. If you sent in the $50 fee to the Cody Museum for as historical letter, I bet it would document your '94 as 1947 or so. Best estimate - - - Johnny __________________ MOLON LABE! Amendment II ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights. Blog: Expert Witness

June 24, 2005, 11:04 PM	#3
DucksOnThePond Member Join Date: June 21, 2005 Location: Pascagoula MS Posts: 34	you can also use this website oldguns.net to look up dates for winchester.

June 24, 2005, 11:30 PM	#5
bbrins Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2001 Posts: 149	Thanks, it's a little older than I was thinking. Also, thanks for the link.