Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Pre 64 Winchesters

I've got a question.....

I know that in '64, Winchester changed the Model 70 from control to push feed, and there may have been some other changes made at that time. Now for the question. I keep seeing other model Winchesters, such as the semi-auto Model 100 being advertised as a pre-64. I'm feel sure that the rifle was probably made prior to '64, but did Winchester also change the feed on that rifle, or make any other changes that would require the "Pre-64' designation to identify if from later made models.

Model 94s were revamped for much cheaper production. Those guns are considered inferior to both the pre-64 models and the ones that they started making about 1979 or 80 with the angle-eject. Then they started putting various safeties on them, which pissed off folks even more than the angle-eject. I almost bought one in 7-30 with the AE, but no safety, but ammo and components were very scarce. The quality was very good, however.

The M100s and M88s got impressed oak leaf and acorn checkering on the stocks instead of cut diamonds, but AFIK were otherwise un-futzed with. They didn’t last long after that anyway.

Labor was pretty much what dictated the difference in the Pre-64. The Depression and War pretty much finished off the quality labor force of the big arms manufacturers. Late pre-war arms was the zenith, by '53-'54 old age and retirement was taking the rest of the skilled gunsmiths. That and by the mid 50's most highly skilled machinist had gone into the Aircraft and Automobile fields(among others), wages left the arms industry unable to keep and train a new generation of skilled gunsmiths, and those that were skilled wound up starting their own business' building and repairing custom rifles. '54 to '63 saw a gradual decline in quality leaving the manufacturers no choice but to come up with cheaper methods of building affordable rifles. CNC turned that around again allowing both better quality and better rifles at a reasonable price.

Phil

Pre-64 M-100s had cut checkering as opposed to pressed checkering on post-64 rifles.

While the “Post 64” Winchester Model 70s weren’t “all that” from a “craft” or “panache” perspective, I’ve shot a couple that were very accurate, despite their looks.

Post '64 M/94's had receivers that were made of sintered or "pressed metal" they were then copper and iron plated in order to be able to be blued. If you buffed thru the copper/iron plating in preparation for reblue you were in for a surprise, The sintered metal could not be reblued, there were also some other changes i.e. rear sight, cartridge guides etc..

Model 94 serial number change from Pre 64 to post 64 was 2.7 million serial number.