1894 Winchester

spencey89 · June 11, 2013, 08:43 AM

My Dad dug up a 1894 Winchester lever action rifle. Made Aug 4, 1894, the rifle is in excellent condition for it's age. No rust, just a little wear from hunting trips and even the action is smooth.

Just one problem........we have no ammo.

It's chambered for the obsolete 32-40 Winchester/Ballard. I looked around and have seen I can still get ammo for it, But i have some concerns.

1. Should I fire the gun? Everything looks ok, no cracks on any parts that i can see.

2. some of the 32-40 ammo I have seen is made from 30-30 brass. Is this ok?

3. some of the ammo also uses a 180g rounds, I've only seen numbers for 150 and 165g rounds. Are these ok as well?

Thanks

I will get some pictures up if I can.

csmsss · June 11, 2013, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Made Aug 4, 1894

I rather doubt that. I don't think they started making them until October. I think you're looking at a patent date.

spencey89 · June 11, 2013, 10:37 AM

I don't have rifle in front of me at the moment, but i will double check and post some pictures. You very well could be right and I'm mistaken. I do remember the serial# 888123.

Jim Watson · June 11, 2013, 10:57 AM

Common charted serial numbers are not right on, but no 888123 was apparently made in or about 1921.
Bert H. on the gunbroker board has access to polishing room records at the Cody Museum which would put it in 1919.
Certainly not a first year rifle, I agree that you are seeing the patent date.
If it is on the gun itself, it surely is the patent date, not the manufacturing date.

It is certainly shootable if in good condition and if you can find or load ammunition for it. I can't help with a source for factory loads.

spencey89 · June 11, 2013, 11:39 AM

Yep, you guys are right. My research matches your 1921 manufacture date.

Anything on the ammo loads?

Magnum Wheel Man · June 11, 2013, 11:47 AM

30-30 cases can indeed be used to make 32-40 cases...

... I would stick to the "normal" bullet weights, not so much worrying about damaging the gun, but that you are likely to see better accuracy...

I have a Remington Rolling block, that I chambered in 32-40... on my rifle, I used an 8 mm barrel for rebarreling, & the twist rate is fast than what you'll find on the Winchester, I specifically used the faster twist barrel, to allow me better long range use

Art Eatman · June 11, 2013, 12:03 PM

Google is your friend: http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.as...57992&CAT=3818

shastaboat · June 11, 2013, 12:22 PM

You can also make cases from .375 Win. This would make an excellent cast rifle gun. Remember to use a flat nose bullet. Bullet size .320-.321.

spencey89 · June 11, 2013, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Google is your friend:

This is true.

I've found a couple of brands and will see what i can get. it might be a while.

spencey89 · June 12, 2013, 07:20 AM

Here are a couple of pics, quality is so-so.

IMG_20130611_211049.jpg

IMG_20130611_211531.jpg

IMG_20130611_211352.jpg

Jim Watson · June 12, 2013, 09:26 AM

Not bad at all, better than the average old Winchester.
The receiver does not hold blue well, see that the barrel is still much blacker and the stock wood in decent shape.

PetahW · June 12, 2013, 09:48 AM

.

I like that you've a Rifle Model, rather than a Carbine - a real classic ! .

.

Scorch · June 12, 2013, 02:12 PM

Very nice! I like it!

5thShock · June 13, 2013, 09:57 AM

Lovely, just lovely. A real live smoke pole. Get ammo, let her speak.

L_Killkenny · June 13, 2013, 11:04 AM

Honestly, go over to the forum at Leverguns.com, those guys will eat that thing up and give you more advice than you can digest on the gun and ammo.

spencey89 · June 13, 2013, 12:23 PM

Will do

Armybrat · June 13, 2013, 08:09 PM

Thanks for posting. It's always fun to see a nice old '94 like yours.

June 11, 2013, 08:43 AM	#1
spencey89 Member Join Date: February 13, 2013 Location: PA Posts: 25	1894 Winchester My Dad dug up a 1894 Winchester lever action rifle. Made Aug 4, 1894, the rifle is in excellent condition for it's age. No rust, just a little wear from hunting trips and even the action is smooth. Just one problem........we have no ammo. It's chambered for the obsolete 32-40 Winchester/Ballard. I looked around and have seen I can still get ammo for it, But i have some concerns. 1. Should I fire the gun? Everything looks ok, no cracks on any parts that i can see. 2. some of the 32-40 ammo I have seen is made from 30-30 brass. Is this ok? 3. some of the ammo also uses a 180g rounds, I've only seen numbers for 150 and 165g rounds. Are these ok as well? Thanks I will get some pictures up if I can.

June 11, 2013, 10:57 AM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,182	Common charted serial numbers are not right on, but no 888123 was apparently made in or about 1921. Bert H. on the gunbroker board has access to polishing room records at the Cody Museum which would put it in 1919. Certainly not a first year rifle, I agree that you are seeing the patent date. If it is on the gun itself, it surely is the patent date, not the manufacturing date. It is certainly shootable if in good condition and if you can find or load ammunition for it. I can't help with a source for factory loads. Last edited by Jim Watson; June 11, 2013 at 11:07 AM.

June 11, 2013, 12:22 PM	#8
shastaboat Junior member Join Date: November 14, 2010 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 26	You can also make cases from .375 Win. This would make an excellent cast rifle gun. Remember to use a flat nose bullet. Bullet size .320-.321. Last edited by shastaboat; June 11, 2013 at 12:27 PM.

June 12, 2013, 02:12 PM	#13
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,249	Very nice! I like it! __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

June 11, 2013, 10:37 AM	#3
spencey89 Member Join Date: February 13, 2013 Location: PA Posts: 25	I don't have rifle in front of me at the moment, but i will double check and post some pictures. You very well could be right and I'm mistaken. I do remember the serial# 888123.

June 11, 2013, 11:39 AM	#5
spencey89 Member Join Date: February 13, 2013 Location: PA Posts: 25	Yep, you guys are right. My research matches your 1921 manufacture date. Anything on the ammo loads?

June 11, 2013, 11:47 AM	#6
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	30-30 cases can indeed be used to make 32-40 cases... ... I would stick to the "normal" bullet weights, not so much worrying about damaging the gun, but that you are likely to see better accuracy... I have a Remington Rolling block, that I chambered in 32-40... on my rifle, I used an 8 mm barrel for rebarreling, & the twist rate is fast than what you'll find on the Winchester, I specifically used the faster twist barrel, to allow me better long range use

June 11, 2013, 12:03 PM	#7
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Google is your friend: http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.as...57992&CAT=3818

June 12, 2013, 07:20 AM	#10
spencey89 Member Join Date: February 13, 2013 Location: PA Posts: 25	Here are a couple of pics, quality is so-so. IMG_20130611_211049.jpg IMG_20130611_211531.jpg IMG_20130611_211352.jpg

June 12, 2013, 09:26 AM	#11
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,182	Not bad at all, better than the average old Winchester. The receiver does not hold blue well, see that the barrel is still much blacker and the stock wood in decent shape.

June 12, 2013, 09:48 AM	#12
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	. I like that you've a Rifle Model, rather than a Carbine - a real classic ! . .

June 13, 2013, 09:57 AM	#14
5thShock Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2006 Posts: 400	Lovely, just lovely. A real live smoke pole. Get ammo, let her speak.

June 13, 2013, 11:04 AM	#15
L_Killkenny Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,676	Honestly, go over to the forum at Leverguns.com, those guys will eat that thing up and give you more advice than you can digest on the gun and ammo.

June 13, 2013, 12:23 PM	#16
spencey89 Member Join Date: February 13, 2013 Location: PA Posts: 25	Will do

June 13, 2013, 08:09 PM	#17
Armybrat Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2009 Location: Round Rock, Texas Posts: 1,006	Thanks for posting. It's always fun to see a nice old '94 like yours.