When did Winchester stop making the '94 Trapper?

Fnusa · February 15, 2019, 08:42 PM

Not sure if it makes a difference, but I'm wondering specifically about a 16 inch barrel chambered in .30-30.
Thanks

jmr40 · February 16, 2019, 09:31 AM

It has not been a regular production rifle in my lifetime. Maybe way back in the day. I've never seen many period.

44caliberkid · February 16, 2019, 11:36 AM

There are 5 of them on gunbroker now, two 30-30's, a 357, a 44 mag, and a 45 Colt. I'm taking a guess these are Miroku made? Please feel free to correct me. It would be a simple matter for a good gunsmith to shorten a barrel and mag tube to whatever you want.

T. O'Heir · February 16, 2019, 01:42 PM

There have been multiple models with 16" or less barrels. However, Win M94's were discontinued in 2006, then briefly brought back as their "Short" rifle in 2010.
A vintage 'Trapper' can run your 5 grand USD. A late model Trapper will run around $500 to $1,000USD.
Muzzle blast and felt recoil from a 16" .30-30 would be excessive. Worse than a 20".

Fnusa · February 16, 2019, 08:38 PM

So then were the trappers discontinued with the rest of the '94s in '06? That makes jmr40 pretty young... I bought one the other day on Armslist, and the serial number is 645XXXX, so it's definately late model. I looked it up on Winchester's website, and it said it was no longer in production, so that's what got me curious. I figured that might be able to help me narrow down when it was manufactured. It is American made, and it's got the cross bolt safety and the rebounding hammer.

rural12 · February 16, 2019, 08:48 PM

Quote:

It has not been a regular production rifle in my lifetime. Maybe way back in the day. I've never seen many period.

jmr40...unless you are only 12yrs old...it certainly has been produced regularly in your lifetime.

Charlie98 · February 17, 2019, 11:07 AM

I bought my brother a .45 Colt Trapper back in the early '90's; as I recall, they were regular production and there were a number of chamberings. His is not a Miroku. I know I have seen a Trapper in .30-30, I just couldn't tell you if it was an older one (i.e. '80's or '90's production) or new. In the same timeframe, I also bought 5 Browning 71's and an 1886, all Miroku rifles of course. There is no comparing the fit and finish between them.

zeke · February 18, 2019, 08:32 AM

Bought a brand new 16 in 30-30 the week before they announced stopping production. Have to look, but believe it has a tang safety. And you'd be right, my memory ain't that good and the rifle only been shot once since it was bought.

Scorch · February 19, 2019, 05:20 PM

Quote:

When did Winchester stop making the '94 Trapper?

Which time? The Winchester 1894 Trapper was discontinued before the Great Depression (the one in the 1930s, not the Obama one). Reintroduced in the Model 94 pre-WW2, discontinued in 1942 because of WW2. Re-introduced in the 1950s, discontinued in the 1960s. Re-introduced in the 1980s, discontinued in the 1990s. Reintroduced about 2000, discontinued in 2006 when production of the 94 ceased. The Trapper models have always been "just one of those things" people asked for but didn't want to buy. Shooting a 30-30 with a 16" barrel is loud and sacrifices some velocity and accuracy, but some folks like the balance and look. So which model 94 do you have? Pre-war? Post-war? Post-64" AE? Winchester? USRAC?

105kw · February 20, 2019, 08:27 AM

About the time I got discharged in 1983, Winchester did a run of 16 inch trapper type carbines.
They were offered in .30-30, and .45Colt.
I think they called it the Wrangler Model.
I bought a .30-30 and still have it, it's a very fun gun to carry and shoot.
Pre angle eject, and pre safety production.

February 15, 2019, 08:42 PM	#1
Fnusa Member Join Date: September 20, 2017 Posts: 16	When did Winchester stop making the '94 Trapper? Not sure if it makes a difference, but I'm wondering specifically about a 16 inch barrel chambered in .30-30. Thanks

February 16, 2019, 09:31 AM	#2
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,808	It has not been a regular production rifle in my lifetime. Maybe way back in the day. I've never seen many period. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

February 16, 2019, 01:42 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	There have been multiple models with 16" or less barrels. However, Win M94's were discontinued in 2006, then briefly brought back as their "Short" rifle in 2010. A vintage 'Trapper' can run your 5 grand USD. A late model Trapper will run around $500 to $1,000USD. Muzzle blast and felt recoil from a 16" .30-30 would be excessive. Worse than a 20". __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

February 17, 2019, 11:07 AM	#7
Charlie98 Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2006 Location: Great state of Texas Posts: 1,077	I bought my brother a .45 Colt Trapper back in the early '90's; as I recall, they were regular production and there were a number of chamberings. His is not a Miroku. I know I have seen a Trapper in .30-30, I just couldn't tell you if it was an older one (i.e. '80's or '90's production) or new. In the same timeframe, I also bought 5 Browning 71's and an 1886, all Miroku rifles of course. There is no comparing the fit and finish between them. __________________ _______________ "I have this pistol pointed at your heart!" "That is my least vulnerable spot."

February 16, 2019, 11:36 AM	#3
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,102	There are 5 of them on gunbroker now, two 30-30's, a 357, a 44 mag, and a 45 Colt. I'm taking a guess these are Miroku made? Please feel free to correct me. It would be a simple matter for a good gunsmith to shorten a barrel and mag tube to whatever you want.

February 16, 2019, 08:38 PM	#5
Fnusa Member Join Date: September 20, 2017 Posts: 16	So then were the trappers discontinued with the rest of the '94s in '06? That makes jmr40 pretty young... I bought one the other day on Armslist, and the serial number is 645XXXX, so it's definately late model. I looked it up on Winchester's website, and it said it was no longer in production, so that's what got me curious. I figured that might be able to help me narrow down when it was manufactured. It is American made, and it's got the cross bolt safety and the rebounding hammer.

February 18, 2019, 08:32 AM	#8
zeke Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 1999 Location: NW Wi Posts: 1,671	Bought a brand new 16 in 30-30 the week before they announced stopping production. Have to look, but believe it has a tang safety. And you'd be right, my memory ain't that good and the rifle only been shot once since it was bought.

February 20, 2019, 08:27 AM	#10
105kw Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2017 Location: Columbia Basin Washington Posts: 414	About the time I got discharged in 1983, Winchester did a run of 16 inch trapper type carbines. They were offered in .30-30, and .45Colt. I think they called it the Wrangler Model. I bought a .30-30 and still have it, it's a very fun gun to carry and shoot. Pre angle eject, and pre safety production.