36" Winchester Model 1894 Made In 1905

36" Winchester Model 1894 video from The Cinnabar.

Summary:

Join us as we take a first look at a rare and interesting Winchester 1894 with a 36" barrel.

 

Winchester 62A POV Firing

Winchester 62A POV firing video by Tenacious Trilobite.

Summary: 

Original Winchester Model 62A chambered in .22 LR. Interesting action, and quite a pleasant little gun to shoot!

I have a Winchester Model 62A. It was inherited from my maternal grandfather. It was manufactured in 1947.

What Winchester Never Told America About the Model 94

What Winchester Never Told America About the Model 94 video by Arms Archives.

Summary: 

The Story of the Rifle Winchester Walked Away From.

For seventy years, the Winchester Model 94 was the most trusted deer rifle in America. Born from the mind of John Browning and chambered in the mythic .30-30, it was forged by generations of men in New Haven, Connecticut, and handed down from father to son.

But behind the scenes, Winchester was already betraying the men who bought it. In 1961, executives looked at a century of American heritage and decided it was too expensive to build. They secretly hollowed out the Model 94, swapping forged steel for cast iron and machined parts for stamped sheet metal, cutting the cost by 54% without ever putting a word of warning on the box. It was a calculated corporate decision that started the slow death of the New Haven plant, eventually locking the doors on a working-class town and leaving 7.5 million hunters holding the history a boardroom threw away.

This is the story of John Browning's masterpiece, the quiet 1964 deception that cheapened it, and why the rifle Winchester abandoned became the one gun America refuses to let go of.

 

The .30-30 Winchester Model 1894 - Firing it Out West

The .30-30 Winchester Model 1894 - Firing it Out West video by Part-Time Explorer.

Summary:

Winchester is known as "the gun that won the west". With that, I simply had to bring my antique Winchester rifle out west with me. Let's dive a bit into the history of this rifle and fire off a few rounds between the deserts of Nevada and the wilderness of Wyoming.

The model 1894 Winchester was first produced in 1894, but were redesigned in 1895 to accommodate smokeless rounds - being the first rifle to do so. Used in both world wars and becoming the most successful high-powered rifle in the United States, the rifle was produced regularly until 2006. In the 1960's, Winchester changed the way the rifle was made in order to save on production costs, using cheaper material and lower quality methods. In more recent years, production was moved overseas. The rifle in this video is from 1949, when these rifles were in their prime.

8 Year Old Shoots Her First Ruger 10/22 Long Range Rifle

8 Year old shoots her first Ruger 10/22 Long Range Rifle video by Allie Arms. [Good to take young daughters out to shoot.]

Summary:

After four years of participating in events at our local Fish and Game Club, and with the permission of our neighbors, Allie finally got the chance to shoot her very first Ruger 10/22 long-range rifle. Her excitement, enthusiasm, and joy are truly inspiring to watch!

 

Not A Screw Hole

You learn something new everyday!

I posted at a Winchester 94 Facebook page asking about what screw goes into the hole above the loading gate (see photo) on my rifle.

It turns out, it is NOT a screw hole.

This was a reply I received: 

That is not a screw hole. It is to insert a punch after the screw is removed on the opposite side of the receiver. That allows the lever to be removed so you can take out the bolt.

This explains why I see so many pre-64 Winchester 94 carbines with a hole in the receiver. I was wondering if that was an inherent problem with them. 

Nice to know this was not a problem.

Shooting the 30 30 Winchester Model 94

Shooting the 30 30 Winchester model 94 video by Spirit of the Outdoors.

Summary:

I am target shooting with the Winchester Model 94, 30-30. This was my Dads old gun and im determined to get some meat with it this year.

This is a post-64 rifle. I spotted it immediately. Although not collectible as pre-64 rifles, this Winchester 94 is still a good shooter. 

Winchester 94 In .375 Winchester

Here's a rarity. A Winchester 94 in .375 Winchester cartridge. I don't think I've ever seen .375 Winchester at any gun stores. But then, I wasn't looking for them either.

According to Guns Magazine:

The .375 Winchester was introduced in 1978 and is a modernized version of the .38-55 Winchester from the 1880s. Wanting to breathe life into the popular Winchester 1894 lever-gun, Winchester released their “big bore” 1894s chambered in .375 Winchester. Although slightly shorter than the .38-55, the .375 Winchester operates at a much higher pressure, 52,000 CUP, making it a powerful, modern-day puncher.

Video by WHOTEEWHO CLIPS.

Restoring A 1959 Winchester 94

Here is a beat-up 67-year-old Winchester 94 rifle being restored in a time-lapse video:

Video by Thompsonoutpost.

The Rifle That Turned A Frontier Myth Into An American Empire

 Winchester 1894: The Rifle That Turned a Frontier Myth Into an American Empire video by Mercy Ian.

Summary:

Winchester 1894 was never just another lever-action rifle. It arrived at a moment when the American frontier was already becoming memory, yet the market for that memory was only beginning to grow. This video traces how the Model 1894 joined new smokeless-powder cartridges, mass production, hunting culture, and Winchester’s powerful brand identity to become one of the most enduring rifles in American history. Behind the cowboy image was a deeper industrial story: a company that understood timing, distribution, mythology, and the changing needs of civilian shooters. The result was not simply a gun of the Old West, but a machine that helped turn the Old West into a lasting commercial legend.

 

4 Fascinating Facts About the Winchester Model 94

Above, the pre-1964 Winchester 94 I bought seven years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Looking at how prices for pre-1964 Winchester 94 rifles have skyrocketed since I bought mine in 2019, I consider myself lucky I bought it when I did.

The Winchester 94 (and lever-action rifles in general) have seen a resurgence in popularity. New ones have been introduced with modern designs. Personally, I prefer the classic ones. 

MSN posted a slideshow article with 4 fascinating facts about the Winchester 94.

They start it with:

The Winchester Model 94, designed by John Moses Browning, was the first American sporting rifle built for smokeless powder cartridges. Over its long history, it has seen millions produced, numerous chamberings, special editions, and design changes that shaped its collectability and performance. Its cultural impact, from being called 'The Gun that Won the West' to becoming a deer hunting staple, has made it an enduring icon among lever-action rifles.

To read more, go here. 

Cody's Giant Winchester

Above, Cody's giant Winchester. Roadside America photo.

Last year, Mitch Geriminsky and I went to Cody, Wyoming to attend the Winchester Arms Collectors Association (WACA) gun show and to visit the Cody Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

While in Cody, we also stopped by the Irma Hotel for dinner. Unbeknownst to us, near the Irma Hotel a 30 foot Winchester lever action would be displayed atop a gun store's roof. 

I just found out about this last evening.

According to Cowboy State Daily:

Fifty years ago, the highlight of the Cody Stampede Parade marking America’s bicentennial celebration was a 30-foot-long .30-30 Winchester rifle, dominating a float that also carried legendary Western actor John Wayne.

That rifle has been sitting atop a storefront in downtown Cody since. 

Everyone loves the giant Winchester, so they might have noticed when it recently suddenly disappeared from the roof where it had been prominently displayed since its trip down Sheridan Avenue decades earlier.

Like John Wayne himself, Cody’s giant Winchester rifle is coming back, better than ever, for another 50 years dominating Cody’s historic downtown.

“We're putting it back to what it was in 1976, as best we can,” said Mike Darby, owner of the Irma Hotel and the giant Winchester. “I can’t confirm or deny what we’re going to do with it, but we’re hoping to have it done by July 3.”

Apparently, the Winchester was removed before our arrival. 

To read more, go here. 

To read Roadside America's entry, go here.

8 Reasons The Winchester 94 Stands The Test of Time

Above, some Winchester 94 rifles on display at the Cody Firearms Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Regular readers of this blog know that I am a huge fan of the Winchester 94 (or Winchester 1894) that was invented by John Moses Browning.

To date, over 7.5 million Winchester 94 rifles have been produced and it is still going strong. It is currently made in Japan by the Miroku Company and the word is that they are of high quality.

MSN posted a slideshow article of eight reasons why the Model 94 stands the test of time.

They begin it with:

The Winchester Model 94, designed by John Browning in 1894, was the first commercial American sporting rifle built for smokeless powder cartridges, featuring strong nickel-steel barrels and a robust action. Its light weight, fast handling, and balanced performance made it a favorite for hunters, while its cultural impact, high production numbers, and collectible variations cemented its legacy. From iconic .30-30 chamberings to rare pre-1933 carbines and commemorative editions, the Model 94 remains both a practical field rifle and a valued historical artifact.

To read more, go here. 

World Record Winchester 1894!

 WORLD RECORD Winchester 1894! video by Rock Island Auction Company.

Summary:

It is now the highest amount achieved for one of America's most popular and produced rifles! 

This John Ulrich masterpiece Model 1894 includes the Master Engraver's No. 2 factory pattern engraving and gold inlay, along with a bevy of deluxe special order features.

 Auction took place in December 2025.

From the Vault: Winchester 1894

From the Vault: Winchester 1894 video by Brownells Inc.

Summary:

The Winchester Model 1894 lever action rifle is one of the most popular sporting firearms of all time. Designed by John Browning and originally chambered for black powder cartridges, the 1894 soon became the rifle Winchester chose for the debut of their first smokeless powder cartridge, the .30-30. Much loved by hunters, the compact 1894 carries and shoulders naturally, shoots well, and has good mag capacity. More deer have probably been taken with an 1894 than any other rifle. Steve Ostrem talks about the Winchester 1894's history and shares the story of his own, personal '94.

Learn more: http://www.brownellsvideos.com 

 

Winchester Model 94 30-30 (pre '64) Field Test

Winchester Model 94 30-30 (pre '64) Field Test video by Sub Zero Survival.

Summary:

Field test of the pre 1964 Winchester Model 94 in 30-30 with Hornady FTX Flex Tip hand loads.

The Hornady LEVERevolution Flex Tip .30-30 rounds worked fine in my Winchester 94. 

 

15 Reasons The Winchester 94 Became So Famous

Above, the Winchester 94 I bought in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Winchester 94 (known originally as the Winchester 1894) has been around since the 19th Century. Over seven million have been made over the years. I was lucky to find one seven years ago that was produced in 1962, making it a highly sought after pre-64. Without hesitation, I bought it.

It is currently made by the Miroku company of Japan. But it is still a popular deer hunting rifle.

The Avid Outdoorsman posted an article yesterday on 15 reasons why the Winchester 94 became so famous. 

They begin with:

The Winchester 94 did not become famous because it was rare, delicate, or expensive. It became famous because it was the rifle people actually carried. It rode in saddle scabbards, pickups, cabins, deer camps, barns, closets, and behind kitchen doors for generations. It was light, handy, fast, and chambered for cartridges that made sense for the kind of hunting most people were actually doing.

Designed by John Browning and introduced in 1894, the Winchester Model 1894 became one of the most important lever-action rifles ever made. It was later chambered for the .30 WCF, better known now as the .30-30 Winchester, and became the first commercial sporting rifle to sell more than 7 million units. Winchester still offers Model 94 lever-action rifles today in versions like the Sporter, Deluxe Sporting, and Trails End Takedown.

To read more, go here. 

Too Windy

Above, the Ruger 10/22 and scope. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today was a planned shoot at the shooting area to zero (adjust) the mounted scope on my Ruger 10/22. But, it is very windy out (which woke me up) right now. It looks like I'll have to wait a few days.

According to the National Weather Service forecast for Jamestown, New Mexico:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 64. Windy, with a west wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Southwest wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Winchester Model 94

Winchester Model 94 video by Jack of All Trades.

Summary:

Today we discuss the legendary Winchester Model 94 lever action rifle.

 

The Last & Worst Winchester

The Last & Worst Winchester video by InRangeTV.

Summary:

The 1895 Winchester was the last lever action gun designed by John Moses Browning.   It is very popular in pop culture, mostly due to its appearance and presence in video games.   In this video I will discuss why it is absolutely the worst Winchester lever action model and why all of the compromises made to allow this gun to chamber modern military cartridges ruined the qualities that make lever actions great.

This is an original Winchester manufactured in the 1920's.   It is not a current manufacture Miroku.