Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Model 94 Age?

Can anybody establish manufacturing date era for the Model 94 from these pics? Owner says 1941-44; WWII era.
Thanks

need serial #

Close up pics of the hammer and barrel markings would help. I've never seen a 94 carbine with that buttstock before, but I haven't seen everything.

Appears to replacement butt stock. It is a rifle butt on a carbine. The last general usage of that type butt was around 1927 IIRC.

Carbines could be special ordered with a Sporting Rifle butt stock, but that doesn’t appear to be the case here. Metal is proud to the wood at both the tang and frame.

so; you think it's a Frankenchester?

Interesting topic. Having studied Winchester's for a few decades, I am aware that carbines could be ordered with rifle butts, however I have never seen a 1 option gun that could be documented. If a custom gun was ordered, several options were purchased. Even 2 option guns are extremely rare. Lastly carbine with rifle butts were made during the time Winchester produced rifle versions. IIRC the rifles were discontinued @1927. The few remaining rifle butt stocks remaining in inventory would surely been used up by 1940. Winchester and Colt both were famous for using up all remaining parts in inventory as soon as possible. Winchester even used 1895 barrels on a few 94's after production of the 1895's were discontinued. Colt used their Alaskan model cylinders in the SSA's to get them used up. A common practice in many business including the several businesses I owned and ran. Also by 1940 Winchester had pretty much shut down their custom shop for all but very elaborate special order guns.

I wouldn’t buy it.

With not a lot to go on here, and so so pics, it does make it challenging. The stock is a definite replacement, as the Crescent butt rifle stock doesn't belong on this carbine. The wood to metal fit at the tang is terrible, and certainly not proud at all! The flat band on the barrel, behind the front sight makes it a flat band carbine, only mfg. during a short period!

Good catch HunterShooter, I completely missed the flat band. If the band is original to the gun then late 40's manufacture.

So with the Flat Band carbine, giving us the most to go on. Winchester tried to reduce their production cost's after WWII, Flat Band Carbines were mfg. between 1943-1948! two types of band were mfg. A flat piece of band steel, and a milled,(more rounded piece of steel). I can't tell from the pics which one you have! 139,000, Flat Band Carbines were produced, in total! Your serial number, if your rifle is truly an honest flat band carbine, should be between serial numbers, 1,373,600-1,547,300! Remember, Winchester has manufactured well over 5 million, 94's to date! I've never seen one with a Crescent butt, vs a flat hard rubber rifle/shotgun style butt!

I would really like to know the actual Serial number, for a Winchester Survey! If your not comfortable posting it here, you can private message me, along with the Caliber! Thanks! It can only be one of three calibers if original. 30 wcf, 32 ws, or 25-35 cal!