Winchester 94 forearm

thirtysixford · March 4, 2023, 03:31 PM

In 1951 or so Winchester shortened the forearm of the model 94 carbine by an inch or so. Can I replace the forearm of my 1953 model 94 with the earlier longer style without any modifications?

My forearm has some damage and I have a chance to buy the longer version at a good price
Thanks

Paul B. · March 5, 2023, 03:59 PM

Go ahead. I see no problem. Frankly, I think the M94 looks a lot better with the longer forearm.
Paul B.

thirtysixford · March 5, 2023, 05:24 PM

Thanks Paul
Change was made at S/N 1,850,000

bamaranger · March 7, 2023, 12:47 AM

Never realized the difference in carbine forearms. Stuff ya don't know

Curious though, does not the barrel band and the screw that secures same, create a potential problem?

thirtysixford · March 7, 2023, 11:57 AM

yea, the barrel band is a definite reason for my post. The new and used ones that I see for sale only say pre or post '64, no mention of anything else. I think the bands are the same.
From the pictures I see, the barrel band appears to be the same distance from the receive on both the long and short ones. The longer one just looks to go further past the band towards the muzzle.
I measured mine and it's 6 7/8 inches from the front edge of the receiver to the center of the band screw.
If someone has a pre s/n 1,850,000 carbine, I would be interested to know what yours measures. Thanks

thirtysixford · March 7, 2023, 01:26 PM

I was refereed to a book by another source that said Arthur Pirkle's "Winchester lever action repeating firearms Vol 3, The Models of 1894 and 1895" had the answer on pages 73-75.

It says the longer forearms are 9 1/8 in length and the newer, shorter ones are 7 7/8. More importantly to my question it says the barrel band location remained identical. Stated the effect was to reduce the amount of wood protruding beyond the barrel band to 1 1/4 inches.
Also notes that many collectors consider the shorter forearm as undesirable.... I'm not sure I agree with that.

I'm going to purchase the longer one

Hellcat1 · March 7, 2023, 05:31 PM

Go for it! Would love to see a before and after pic, if you're so inclined.

Frank

bamaranger · March 8, 2023, 01:23 AM

More stuff ya didn't know......thanks for the follow up!

thirtysixford · March 8, 2023, 06:50 PM

I hate to beat this to death, I promise this is my last reply to this, but I just received a copy of Arthur Pirkle's book and I must say that it is the most detailed book on the 1894/94/1895 I have come across.
No photographs but lots of diagrams, charts etc. Even down to the screw sizes for the model.

I have no affiliation with the author, just my opinion, available at the usual online places.

March 4, 2023, 03:31 PM	#1
thirtysixford Member Join Date: January 2, 2018 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 35	Winchester 94 forearm In 1951 or so Winchester shortened the forearm of the model 94 carbine by an inch or so. Can I replace the forearm of my 1953 model 94 with the earlier longer style without any modifications? My forearm has some damage and I have a chance to buy the longer version at a good price Thanks

March 5, 2023, 03:59 PM	#2
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,691	Go ahead. I see no problem. Frankly, I think the M94 looks a lot better with the longer forearm. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

March 7, 2023, 12:47 AM	#4
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 7,954	Interesting Never realized the difference in carbine forearms. Stuff ya don't know Curious though, does not the barrel band and the screw that secures same, create a potential problem?

March 7, 2023, 01:26 PM	#6
thirtysixford Member Join Date: January 2, 2018 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 35	SOLVED I was refereed to a book by another source that said Arthur Pirkle's "Winchester lever action repeating firearms Vol 3, The Models of 1894 and 1895" had the answer on pages 73-75. It says the longer forearms are 9 1/8 in length and the newer, shorter ones are 7 7/8. More importantly to my question it says the barrel band location remained identical. Stated the effect was to reduce the amount of wood protruding beyond the barrel band to 1 1/4 inches. Also notes that many collectors consider the shorter forearm as undesirable.... I'm not sure I agree with that. I'm going to purchase the longer one

March 8, 2023, 01:23 AM	#8
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 7,954	stuff More stuff ya didn't know......thanks for the follow up!

March 5, 2023, 05:24 PM	#3
thirtysixford Member Join Date: January 2, 2018 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 35	Thanks Paul Change was made at S/N 1,850,000

March 7, 2023, 11:57 AM	#5
thirtysixford Member Join Date: January 2, 2018 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 35	yea, the barrel band is a definite reason for my post. The new and used ones that I see for sale only say pre or post '64, no mention of anything else. I think the bands are the same. From the pictures I see, the barrel band appears to be the same distance from the receive on both the long and short ones. The longer one just looks to go further past the band towards the muzzle. I measured mine and it's 6 7/8 inches from the front edge of the receiver to the center of the band screw. If someone has a pre s/n 1,850,000 carbine, I would be interested to know what yours measures. Thanks

March 7, 2023, 05:31 PM	#7
Hellcat1 Member Join Date: January 29, 2022 Posts: 41	Go for it! Would love to see a before and after pic, if you're so inclined. Frank

March 8, 2023, 06:50 PM	#9
thirtysixford Member Join Date: January 2, 2018 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 35	I hate to beat this to death, I promise this is my last reply to this, but I just received a copy of Arthur Pirkle's book and I must say that it is the most detailed book on the 1894/94/1895 I have come across. No photographs but lots of diagrams, charts etc. Even down to the screw sizes for the model. I have no affiliation with the author, just my opinion, available at the usual online places.

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