Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General I bet this Winchester 94 question will stump you

Does anyone know what years that the 94 "flatband" rifles were manufactured? I've heard they were only made for two or three consecutive years.

I recently aquired one in fantasic condition (near mint) but has been cycled. According to everything I can find it was made somewhere between 1943 and 1948. Records for these years on the model 94's were lost somehow at Winchester. Serial number is: 14571xx

According to The Winchester Book, by George Madis, the flat band was introduced during WW2 because of a lack of machinery to produce the regular style. It began around 1,400,000 and continued to about 1,460,000. According to ArmsCollectors.com records don't exist from 1943 to 1948. If you remove the magazine and forend you may find a two-numeral date stamped on the underside of the barrel under the chamber.

I asked this same question on www.levergun.com and some have put the date of manufacture on my gun at probably 1948. The info you're talking about from the George Madis book is interesting. I'm going to try to get a copy of it.

I like the looks of the flatband rifle but it looks like a lot of machining went into it. Bet it cost substantially more to produce.

Really?

Looks like there would be less machining involved in the making of a flat band, to me.

Don't really know about that Walker.

It appears (at least to me) that the regular bands are pressed into shape and the flat bands are milled into shape.

Do you know something about the manufactures procedures of either? I really don't. Just going by what they look like.

I'm sure that the flat bands were milled, and I'm quite sure that the "regular" bands were also milled until about 1943, when the flat bands appeared.

When the "regular" contoured front barrel bands were reintroduced after WWII, those were stampings. Now, I'm going from memory here, so could be wrong. I'll see if I can find the source, and get back to you.

You are correct, Walker. The flatband was made to save cost but there were several other changes also that are much less noticeable.

JBLEDSOE,
Thanks. Still wondering where I read about it. I thought it was mentioned in The Winchester Book, by Madis, but no luck there, unless I missed it, somehow. Can you point me to a source for that information, in print?

I think the standard bands were cold forged and hand finished...But I couldn't tell you where I read this.

It doesn't matter. You have a wonderful rifle and you should keep it. Didn't mean to butt in but I like them regardless of the band or forearm length. Thanks...Bill.