O/T: Winchester Model 94

bmack95hd

Well-known Member
When a Buddy of mine passed away his Lady Friend gave me his Model 94 30/30. By the serial number it is a post '63 rifle. Here's the issue, he refinished the stock and didn't do a very good job of it, varnish drips and varnish on the metal. Rifle shoots just fine but looks like hedoublell. Would you leave it alone or refinish and what would be the best fix?
 
It would depend on what you plan to do with it. If all your going to do is use it to hunt I would leave it as is. If you want it as a wall hanger then I would take it to a good gun smith and have him fix it up
 
Take some steel wooland "UNDER THE FORESTOCK" try to lightly buff-out the varnish finish in the vicinity of your hand when shooting the rifle.

When it looks good enough for YOU, decide whether or not you want to do the rest of the stock. When all done, apply some HOPPES gun oil to the stock when you are cleaning the rifle.

I spent a lotta of years working under a PA LONG RIFLE gunmaker. Kentucky Rifle Association.

John,PA
 
As for monetary value, Unless it has some ultra rare feature once one of those is modified or abused it's just another one of a zillion owner neglected or modified 94s around, nothing special. If you "fix it up" It is still nothing special just another fixed up 94 that is not worth but 60-70% of a nicely kept original. Basically any money you put into it is money down the drain when it comes to reselling. All that being said do with it what pleases you, it's specialness is it belonged to your budddy. If you cant stand to look at it and cant do the work yourself purchase a set of prefinished fitted stocks, probably about $150 if you shop. This is less than any gunsmith worth his salt will charge you to refinish the originals.
 
(quoted from post at 09:09:20 11/07/14) When a Buddy of mine passed away his Lady Friend gave me his Model 94 30/30. By the serial number it is a post '63 rifle. Here's the issue, he refinished the stock and didn't do a very good job of it, varnish drips and varnish on the metal. Rifle shoots just fine but looks like hedoublell. Would you leave it alone or refinish and what would be the best fix?

Depends on your skills. My mom hand rubbed in linseed oil on stocks for dad when he was bluing a gun. Took her hours. Dad sanded them as needed but she did the finishing. As was said. For a bang around shooter I'd still clean it up and redo the stock. I like my guns to look nice. For a wall hanger I'd go ahead and have it professionally done.

Rick
 
It is one of the zillions out there, nothing unique about it to make it a collectable. The 94 I got when my Dad passed has the sentimental value. But it's like my two '51N's I had to fix the P.O.'s sloppy paint just because. I'll clean this rifle up and make it my coyote chaser. Thanks for the advise.
 
I would take some denature alcohol(don't drink it)and rub the old finish.it would clean it up and refinish the old stock.
 
If it was all original AND had some value to it, I'd recommend a professional. In this case, where it sounds like the only thing special is that it belonged to your friend, you need to decide what it's worth to you.

My father had a '94 chambered in .32-40 that was made in 1898. I believe that it was his father's gun. My nephew has it and hasn't yet decided what to do with it.

Somewhere along the line someone shortened the barrel slightly. My father said he thought the crown had been damaged and it wasn't shooting straight. The only problem is that it looks like they used a hacksaw. They must have either been lucky or really good with a hacksaw because it shoots really well. However, because it's not 100% original, the value is much less than it would otherwise be.

I think my nephew is going to keep it as is.
 
Ask the same question on gun forum. You have already gotten some wrong advice here ("...when you clean the gun, put some Hoppies Gun Oil on the stock..."). Gun Oils, meant for metal will soak into the stock, darken it and soften it (some say rot it). I have seen stocks so saturated with gun oil that they had to be replaced. Oils that are used to finish wooden stocks dry and form a coating. Gun oils do not dry...just stay wet and make mush of the wood. Tractor forums for good tractor advice, gun forums for good gun advice.
 
(reply to post at 13:09:20 11/07/14)

The model 94 spanned many years. The more sought after ones are the pre-64 models. But even those do not bring in hefty prices as they are not really what collectors go after unless they are from some of the original years in the 1800's
People tend to like them because in all of the western movies everyone had a Winchester.

There was a period in the seventies that the finish on the 94's was extremely poor an undesirable. The barrel actually began to rust. Also the action was redesigned to a side eject. I believe it started in 1973.

I picked up a 30-30 model 94 many years ago. Took it on many hunts that was in deep brush. Dropped it and split the stock one year and than threw it in the back of the gun cabinet. Last year my son got a hold of it and went to a local gun show and picked up a beautifully finished stock for $50.

Following is a s/n break down by year. Just sctoll down until you see the listing for the 94.

[color=red:e301851484][b:e301851484]http://www.winchesterguns.com/suppo...re-Dates-by-Year----2012-Scanned-Documents.pdf[/b:e301851484][/color:e301851484]
 
Handy rifle.
My dad gave both my brother and I new 30 30 Marlins for HS graduation.
43 years later I still have it though I bought a new rifle about 8 years ago and use that now.
I laid down a lot of deer over the years with that 30 30.
My buddy will be here in about 10 minutes to pick me up to go up north. Deer opener is tomorrow.
Hope everyone has a successful hunt this year!
 
Have been on that web site and found out the one 94 I got from my Dad was made in 1953 and the one from my buddy was made in 1964. I'm not looking for them to be of any value, like oldtanker said I just want them to look good for my own satisfaction.
 
I've dressed up a few stocks in my lifetime. Don't claim to be an expert, so here's my two cents. You can remove the stock pieces or tape up the metal near the stock and remove the old finish with steel wool. Depending upon the condition of the finish you can leave the old patina on it or go down to wood. If you want a particular color you can put some wood stain on it to even out the finish then use Tru-oil to put an oil finish on the stock. Just rub it in with your hands or use a cloth. Let dry and repeat. The more coats you put on the deeper and harder the finish.

I've done gun stocks and display cases with it. It does a great job.
 
since the collectability of the stock is already ruined. i'd remove all the wood and metal furniture. sand the stock celan, and if it is a good looking wood, stain or oil finish it.

then carefully clean the old varnish from the metal, reassemble and go.
 
I agree with oldtanker. No matter what I was going to do with the rifle I would make some type of an effort to make it look nice. The good news is since it has already been refinished its like a free play. You can't really mess it up. If something doesn't turn out right you can just strip it and redo or buy another stock. Money down the drain doesn't really make since to me, I have thousands in my guns, what does a few dollars to finish a stock really matter?
 
SORRY....Idisagree.

Depending on the quality of the "varnish" that was applied.....the "BUDDY" displayed some sorta of character. A "good" Buddy would retain the character of his LOST buddy. Howsoever: the way the rifle "FEELS" in the hands, will define the procedure to acquire "THAT FEEL".

So, in due respect the rifle needs special "TREATMENT".


John,PA
 
i'm not even sure how, or if I should reply to your post.

I'm speaking in general terms on the treatment of curio and antique or collectable guns.

guns in original finish are generally mre collectable than ones that have been refinished. There are notable exceptions when an arm has been thru a factory arsenal refinish as many military organisations did with their arms. An arsenal refinished arm may still be considered correct. For example.. when you see a 91/30 mosin nagant sniper rifle with matching and correct turned down bolt and a PU scope mount and scope with electropencil 'force' markings on it. it is actually CORRECT, because that's how the ruskie armourors did it.

this guy asked about the refinish options to the gun. If you have a beef with him refinishing the sloppy paint job on his gun.. take it up with him.. not me.
 
Since John brings up the point about sentimental value, lets be clear.

the 'right fix' is whatever you want the outcome to be on this gun. refinished or preserved for sentimental value.
 
I did NOT mean anything personal. N friend

Like I stated originally I am used to 18th century pieces.

Approximately valued at 200,000 thru 500.000 dollars, in personal collections. This type is a personal hand-down situation to remain in the "family" so long. Yet, I was trained to make sure the character of the original gun-maker was preserved, regardless of the owner of the piece.

This is why we never accepted "modern" guns for restorations.

Winchester.....go for it! What ever works!

So, do not take my post "personal".

John,PA
 
We currently have a gunsmithing and manufacturing business for firearms and ammunition. I have refinished many an old stock. The firearm had virtually no collector value before your buddy redid it and especially now is only a good shooter. The best thing we have found for removing old finishes and all the grime which may be ground into the wood is EZ Off. When you use it hose it off and don't panic. The wood will turn dark from the water which only penetrates the surface. Let it dry and in about 24 hours you will have a stock that is basically bare wood and you can then apply any finish you want. I usually use Tung Oil but it is a slow process but when finished will be hard as nails. This process eliminates excessive sanding which will make the stock not fit right.
 
(quoted from post at 12:33:31 11/07/14) Ask the same question on gun forum. You have already gotten some wrong advice here ("...when you clean the gun, put some Hoppies Gun Oil on the stock..."). Gun Oils, meant for metal will soak into the stock, darken it and soften it (some say rot it). I have seen stocks so saturated with gun oil that they had to be replaced. Oils that are used to finish wooden stocks dry and form a coating. Gun oils do not dry...just stay wet and make mush of the wood. Tractor forums for good tractor advice, gun forums for good gun advice.

LOL now that's a good one! I've read gun forums. Most of the posters know about as much about guns as our current politicians know about balancing the budget! Most of what I've seen is arguments about which guns/caliber is better with few knowing anything about ballistics or the guns themselves. Kinda like someone ask which tractor they should buy on the general talk forum on YT. Everyone post their favorite tractor without regards to the needs or location of the OP. There are a few knowledgeable people on those forums but darn few.

Rick
 
It was the pre '64 Winchesters that were a more desirable and the pre WW2 rifles bring the most money in '94s so it's not a huge collector piece. I'd remove the wood and start with the least invasive methods of removing the varnish. Avoid heavy sanding as it rounds off edges and lowers the wood around the metal which looks awful.

Maybe try some Howards-Restor-A-Finish with a Scotch brite pad first and if that doesn't work you may have to use a stripper on it. Lightly sanding with fine grit paper will be needed to cut the wood whiskers off then.

If you strip it it will need a stain of some sort. I always used alcohol analine dyes myself. A little googling will turn up analine dyes specially formulated for old Winchester rifles. Then finish with Tru-Oil rubbed on or a modern Tung Oil finish with dryers in it.
 
sg your having a rough week with people. So why all of a sudden would you care so much about a old rifle, you told me on my tractor a crappy oil gauge is fine as it did not affect its operation. I looked and looked for a photo in the archives for 1 of your restorations no can fine. If I could see just 3 or 4 I would concede and retract my statement to the entire forum. Your writings in those publications too. No need for you to have discretions.
 
Nobody can tell you what to do> but I bet you already have a plan so go with what your thinking.
 
1, i'm going to report your post for harrassment.

2, my posts ARE in the archives and blog posts. if you can't find them you are not searching correctly. ( try searching for my handle.. Soundguy ).. and I'll be waiting for that retraction...

3, If you can't find my articles in the N-News you aren't looking either. Feel free to contact the editor of the N-News, Rob.. I've co written a few articles with Bruce Haynes too. As for farm collector, antique power and tractor shop, i don't keep copy dates wrote down, but the antique power one was one of it's aniversery issues... The tractor shop has my 5000 on front.

4, I told you i'd replace the gauge if it was mine, just for it being eratic and undampened / compensated.

5, I collect firearms from the 1850's and up. Mostly antiques and curio pieces, but also modern guns.
 
all these pics were from right here at YT.

the 5000 pic was on the cover of tractor shop.
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Soundguy I see that you not only talk to talk but have actually walked the walk. That is a gorgeous collection of pictures. Only thing better is if I could see them in person.
Very inspiring.
 
that's only a partial sample of my tractors. It's all i could copy and paste over on my phone and find easy access too. I have a jd-B, andnother IH cub, a dozen other fords and NH's etc.

A couple users here and that used to be here have seen some of my tractors. I don't know if gaspump still posts here, but he and another user ray taschenburger and another user dale bear ( along with talahassee don ? ) have been to a few shows i have been to. I *Think* dollar bill has also been to the club shows I belong to in starke florida. I've had a few different tractors in the shows, my 2n, my allis G, my 951 my 660 and my 5000.
 
Before you have me arrested and ousted for harassment . All you needed to do was give me dates of these photos and where they were posted on the forum, simple. If you did in fact do all these tractors yourself then I say they are all wonderful and you are good at what you do. Other then the over spray on some tires good job. I would still like to see the original post as these could be anyones tractors at your place, as they appeared here on the forum thats all. I did remove the oil gauge from the tractor today and its your for the asking and would be glad to give it to you. I am just saying when you said its a 60 y/o tractor with a mo. old gauge made no sense and with the gauge put together wrong and bracket 45 degrees off you said I should deal with it and I said if you think thats ok I said you were not much of a craftsman and that still goes, over spray says to me lack of craftsmanship and at a tractor show that sticks out as what else is shoddy and a quicky paint job. Thats all a simple statement. So before you throw me in the brier patch answer my? Your wise and unsolicited remark was far from a good tractor guru answer. You arnt used to being questioned when you make remarks like you did to my post.This is not harassment its forum.
 
Son have overspray from me, some from others, u buy used tires when I can. On a worker, ill run overspray,big I show it ill either remove tires, or mask them . I've used tire paint on a couple that were otherwise good but dry from age.

So I just want to clarify a question.. You are basically asking me I I randomly ripped off other peoples pictures and just posted them. Even though my same equipment barn and animals appear un many of the pics, same pasture and same barn ? So you are essentially accusing me of lieing? Right or am I
misunderstanding your post???

The bulk of those pics came from the project journal on this site, no one but me can post there, so can't be others pictures, unless you think people sneak into my pasture and shop ti take tractor pics?
 
Phone cut me off.

Project journals are by username, other users can't post in my journal is what I was trying to say, I'm pretty sure it lists the dates. The journals show the tractors from purchase to finish. Some of the pics are from before we had journals here, so those pics are found by searching for soundguy under the tractor photo on the left side, lower quality pics, but most of them have multiple stage pics as I worked on them. That's the best I can give you, you asked for dates ? Do you remember every date of every post you have made on a tea to board in the last 10 to 15 ys.. I can't.??
 
Sheesh guys, was gone for the weekend, no e-mail, come back and it looks like I set off a bomb of discussion on my topic and it bled into other topics. Thanks for all the advise, maybe I'll just sell the rifle!! NO WAY!!
 
They could be anybodys is what Im saying. Being at your place only says they were at your place. I really dont think you did them all, but if you did I take my hat off to you and say well done. When I enlarged them I can see dents and dings in some of them. That tells me craftsmanship is missing. I also think some were just masked and painted and some were taken apart and done right. This just goes back to your remark about my gauge and your reply to me. Basicly I think you could care less what I had to say and my post was something you didnt want to be bothered with. I wont be talked to like that from you or anybody else here, it was very arrogant of you reply the way you did. End of story. So go ahead and report me get me band thats your call.
 
If i didn't have anything to say to you i wouldn't have replied.

My post was to make 3 points.

1, direction of the bracket should not effect operation.

2, the fact the gauge diameter and the hole diamater did not match was not surprising. I've run into many gauges that didn't fit the OEM holes. MOST of the time i find the gauges are too large by a hair, another poster posted the same.

3, A gauge that was eratic and fluctuation was , IMHO, bad and should be replaced just for that reason, bracket direction, or fittment not withstanding. Note my ORIGINAL post said to replace the gauge.

At this point I believe our conversation is done. You are calling me a liar saying the tractors are not mine. I could waste my time and go take pics of every one of them out under that big metal equipment barn that exists inthe back of about 4 of those pictures..

You claim to not be able to do a search of the picture archives here, and you claim to not be able to click the project journal link which would show me working on, finishing, and eventually using the tractors in every day chores and tasks.. that tells me you are not making any effort to do so, even though ALL of the evidence is freely availbe to be clicked on and verified.

I wasn't talking down to you.. I was telling you the gauge was bad. You however multiple times now have implied that i have lied about having the pictures and them being my property.. so this is the end of our conversation.
 
Your answer was your answer I know what your reply was, you just arnt use to being called out on things. Dont ask me what my post say and mean they are very clear and to the point. If your offended by my blunt replys just remember who started it. So turn me over to the moderator, just do it. I have made my point on this issue and Im not worried that Kim will do me under for stating facts. Your digging a hole to nowhere, stop digging.
 
(quoted from post at 22:09:20 11/07/14) When a Buddy of mine passed away his Lady Friend gave me his Model 94 30/30. By the serial number it is a post '63 rifle. Here's the issue, he refinished the stock and didn't do a very good job of it, varnish drips and varnish on the metal. Rifle shoots just fine but looks like hedoublell. Would you leave it alone or refinish and what would be the best fix?

Take the wood off, strip it and then oil it up good with multiple coats of linseed oil. It's all we've ever used on my grampy's '94 in 32 Winchester Special. Hornady just started making a semi-FMJ for it that actually works...it's an oddball caliber but I love the gun.
 
(quoted from post at 17:09:52 11/11/14) Your answer was your answer I know what your reply was, you just arnt use to being called out on things. Dont ask me what my post say and mean they are very clear and to the point. If your offended by my blunt replys just remember who started it. So turn me over to the moderator, just do it. I have made my point on this issue and Im not worried that Kim will do me under for stating facts. Your digging a hole to nowhere, stop digging.

None of my business but you are pushing the envelope and close to winning this month's award. In essence whene= your bluff was called you have publicly suggested Chris fabricated the rather extensive folio of his "tractor restoration" images you asked for. I would suggest you drop it it while you can still gracefully (???) exit. This is not helping your reputation on this forum.....

TOH

Im-a-LOSER.png
 
Thats a clever pointed finger, but really. I
remember nothing in forum agreement that I had
to be pushed aside and talked down to, if I had
something to post. Now you can run to the
moderator too. I only remain here as do you as
a guest not a right to be here . Just a
privilege not a right. My privilege is = to
yours. So if I loose my privilege you should
too all things being =. I make my final
statement to you and it is your own words
"None of your but-in-ness"
 

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