Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 94 Carbine, Flat Band

Serial Number: 1378035

Year of Manufacture: 1946 / C&R

Caliber: .30-30 Winchester Center Fire (.30-30 W.C.F.)

Action Type: This rifle has a lever action with a full length tubular magazine.

Barrel Length: 20"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a hooded beaded blade dovetailed into a textured, ramped base fixed to the barrel in front of the forward barrel band. The rear sight is a "U"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel; the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece walnut with a banded forend, a smooth straight grip, straight comb, and a checkered steel buttplate. The stocks have some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The LOP measures 13" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9.5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 75% of its current finish. The balance of the finish shows thinning and finish loss on the leading edges, receiver, and barrel bands. There are some small dings on the sides of the forend band. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety and the lever safety is operational. The action locks-up solidly. The trigger is crisp. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1894 rifle followed the other John Browning designed lever action rifles to become one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles of all time. It was the first commercial sporting rifle to sell over 7,000,000 units, making the name "Winchester" synonymous with all lever action rifles. It was also the first commercial American repeating rifle built to be used with smokeless powder. It was introduced in 1894 in two black powder cartridges, the .32-40 and .38-55 Win. rounds, but by the next year Winchester had developed a different steel composition that could handle higher pressures, and the .30-30 Win. family of cartridges was born. Not only was it a success, but as of 1983 it held the record for the best-selling center-fire rifle in U.S. history. 5,103,249 Winchester 1894’s and 94’s were produced from 1894 to 1983 alone and it didn’t stop there. From 1984 to 1997, the Model 94 angle eject was introduced and in 2003 the iconic rifle was offered as a .410 shotgun. U.S. production ceased in 2006. At the time there were 14 versions of the Model 94 in the Winchester catalog. In 2010 Winchester Repeating Arms reintroduced the model 94 in two Limited Edition models to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Oliver F. Winchester’s birth in New England in 1810.

This is a Winchester Model 1894 Carbine rifle made in 1946 and has a 20" Round barrel chambered in .30-30. Of particular interest, this rifle has a flat barrel band. Flat band production began approximately nine months after the end of WWII around July 1946 and ended around mid-December 1948 with about 139,000 having been produced. It will make a great addition to any collection and should still prove to be a very classy and classic shooter.