The Winchester Model 94: History & Disassembly

Above, my 1962 Winchester 94 in .30-30 caliber. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Those who follow this blog know that I am a big fan of the Winchester 94 lever-action rifle. I bought a pre-64 model six years ago and it is my favorite firearm. 

The NRA posted an article on its history and disassembly back in 2021 in their online version of American Rifleman. 

It starts with:

In November 1894, Winchester introduced its new Model 94 lever-action rifle with the following prophetic words: “We believe that no repeating rifle system ever made will appeal to the eye and understanding of the rifleman as this will and that use will continue to warrant first impressions.” Winchester’s new rifle quickly became the preferred firearm of Western settlers, prospectors, law enforcement officers, hunters and ranchers who appreciated its power, reliability, light weight and compact dimensions.

Today, more than 100 years and 5,500,000 rifles later, the Winchester Model 94 remains a bestseller for those same reasons. Like so many other successful rifles and shotguns, the Winchester Model 94 rifle was designed by John M. Browning who sold his Model 94 patent (No. 524702 of August 1894) to Winchester.

Above, designer John Moses Browning.

To read more, go here.