What's the word on late model Winchester 94 levers? They seem pricey but how is the quality?

The new ones are Miroku made. They appear a quality piece. I like Miroku products.

I have only handled one or two. I have not fired one.

Landrum,

Looked at em again yesterday at LGS where I once worked. Again I believe they are well put together.

And I gotta admit, I kinda got a bit of a tingle to one of the rifle versions in 25/35!

I really can ignore tang safety.

Only thing is at $1400 one can almost find a decent original shooter. For just a little more a nice old rifle can be had.

Good luck!

I really dislike rebounding hammers, I'm guess these have them too?

Yes they do.

I have 2, a mod 71 and a mod 64, both are well made and accurate. Prefer the tang safety to the cross bolt type on my older 94's.

Miroku Winchesters might look a lot like the originals, but they are quite a bit different. With the new 94s, the action was redesigned for a tighter feel, and yes, Miroku uses the metric system, so everything from threads to steel thickness is going to be different as well.
Really, once the Winchester plant closed about a dozen years ago, those were pretty much the last genuine Winchester guns made, and the new 94s are more or less copies with changes.
Just taking them at face value, the new guns appeared to me to be well made. I pretty much think for the price, they should offer sling mounts and checkering standard, and they should jettison the stupid rebounding hammer. If they need to keep the tang safety, well do it the half cock notch. Maybe the tang is better than the cross bolt, maybe not. Depends upon one's preference.
On the other hand, the Miroku guns are the only new production guns to wear the Winchester name. It can be quite a task to find those original rifles in anything approaching good condition for a reasonable price. I've been looking to fill my 94 Big Bore need with a wood stocked 444 longer than I can remember. Yes, I know, they sport that rebounding hammer, but I still need one that won't require an arm and a leg.
My guess is that FNH is happy enough with small production runs of pricey, but well made Winchesters. Chances are, unless you beat the tar out them, they'll pretty much hold or even increase in value. I've never heard anyone complain of bad accuracy, and unlike the originals, they aren't so precious that they have to be sequestered into dark corners to emerge seldom and be shot even more rarely.

64! I had a 64 in 32Special back in the 50's to 63, Was stolen in Potsdam NY. Loved it. The fit was perfect for me. Got my first Buck with it along with a truckload of whitetails over the years. The 64 was a great gun.

looking around carefully..........you could buy two real used Marlins for $1400

Out in my area, Marlins are often less expensive than Winchesters, but not always. The other day brought up a Win 94 in 32 WS for $625, meanwhile a rusty Marlin 1894 was priced at $812, and a 444 was over $700.
It's true that new Miroku guns are pricey, but Marlin offers some new models that price over $1,000 retail. I was perusing the local ads, and a guy was selling his used Marlin 1894 for $1,000 firm.
My best guess is that the word is out concerning the desirability of the pre- Rem guns, and those that have them demand high dollar amounts, at least around here.
In general, the only Winchester 94s that consistently bring the lowest figures are those made from 1964-1980. Miroku guns consistently command twice to three times that price, of course this is assuming excellent overall condition. I can find Winchester 94s in that 64-80 time slot that are still good deals, work and shoot just fine, and cost less than a comparable pre-Rem Marlin.

MAK! I agree on the 64-80 vintage guns. Wifey and I gave old son a used “antique” finish 94 we could afford way back when he was like 12 or so. I’m sure it’s a late 60’s early 70’s rifle. He has killed a truckload of deer and hogs with that rifle! He’s pushing 40 and he still hunts with that rifle.

The new Miroku Winchesters are nice rifles. I don't like the rebounding hammer either, and despise the tang safety, but I could learn to live with em.

I have enough older rifles, so I doubt I'll buy one. But they are tempting.

From what I've read, the safeties were at the insistence of "Winchester" management and are the same I believe as the last ones produced in the U.S. The new '73s are largely as original. Every review I've seen on the new 94s has been positive, especially regarding the changes to changes to the action to make it smoother (rounded trunions?). Can't justify the investment at this stage of my life, but might swing a "just because" Marlin like the one in the used rack nearby, which is priced well below GB levels.

The price of both the new and the pre '64 Winchester 94's is so far out of the original decent rifle for everyman range that they are entirely different things, should have another model name, 94 ne plus ultra, non? My post '64 with half cock and no safety, with freckled grapitic iron receiver is still a 94, a real one. Oui?

To a purist, maybe not, but my '70 M94 has put pure death on deer, bear, and pig.

The newer Miroku guns are nice probably some of the best 94's made. I have two, I feel they are better than two XTR big bores I have. And possibly better than two 1950's pre 64 94's that I have. Although if I had to give up some guns the Miroku guns would be the first to go.

The new ones are definitely nice rifles, and I certainly wouldn't slag anybody who buys them. Where I'm from, we can still buy nice pre-64's for $500-600, maybe a bit more for really nice ones. If money wasn't the problem, I would have a Miroku or two or three in a heartbeat, tang safety and all. I have five 94's now - two 1957.32WS carbines and a 1918 rifle in .32WS, a 1957 30-30 carbine, and a Canadian Centennial carbine. Had a matching set, purchased new in 1967 but the rifle was stolen.

Some folks still place a high value on the pre-64's, or maybe someone got auction fever. Nice rifle here for sure, no special historical significance or provenance but holy moley...

Pre-64 Model 94 sold for $1,775

I'd put it to auction fever. The high bidder is a first time buyer and the rest of the bidders from $820 and up only had 1 or 2 previous purchases. I bet the seller is happy, IF he gets paid.

JB recently wrote up one and it appeared he was impressed.

Well built guns, but why in hell do they have a safety?

Really. With today's insatiable wanting to find fault with any manufacturer for a firearm accident do you really believe a manufacturer could sell a firearm in this day and age without a safety system incorporated. I think not.

Yes. That is the purpose of the exposed, rebounding hammer. A 99 Savage would require a safety. A Winchester or Marlin would not. I have several that do not, and they are as safe as could be possible while still able to fire.