Any collectors out there know exactly how rare short rifles are? I just bought one:20 inch extra lightweight barrel,forend 8and3/8 inches long,takedown, shotgun butt,full magazine, manufacture date 1908 in .30WCF. I've read that 20 inch rifles are the rarest of all but there's not a lot of info available. A buddy of mine owns around forty 94's and he's never even seen one before.

I'm not a collector, nor an expert, however I do have an interest in Winchester leverguns.
Before ww2, and especially before ww1, Winchester and most other manufacturers offered an extensive list of options, including finishes, sights, buttplates, magazines, furniture, and of course, barrel length and configuration options.
My guess is that yours is among those that received the custom touch. The Cody museum can research your gun, but I doubt the records exist to answer your question of exactly how many were made.

Hey Mak
I've been told that my gun will not letter with the museum because the serial number is 450xxx and the records don't exist above 300 and some odd thousand apparently around 1906.

Yep, kinda thought the cutoff was somewhere past the turn of the century. You will have to dig into various Winchester books written over the decades. Unfortunately, they were all modest runs and are now out of print, yet they do circulate now and then.
Even the best research has blank areas where no information exists-records were commonly lost to fire, the elements, and various acts of men and God.
In the end, you have a fascinating example of a Winchester. Take care of it, and enjoy it!

Kato, I'm pretty sure your Winchester will letter, i'm think some one got the Marlin and winchester records mixed up. The Marlin records stop in 1906 with the serial number 355,000. The winchester records are incomplete around the late 1920's,early 1930,s

Your rifle is near the cutoff point for the letter.
It may and it may not. I have a 92 from 1906 that will not letter.
If you want to find out about your short rifle, look to the winchester collector sights. there are a few out there.
A short rifle is rare, but the lightweight barrels are rare also. They seem to bring a preimium to collectors.
If you just want a little help putting a value on your rifle, Pm me and I can probably help.
There are many fake short rifles out there.
...tj3006

Kato, Chances are with the 8 3/8 length forearm it probably is correct as a short rifle ,if a long forearm was cut back ,the tenon cut in the barrel would be visable if the forearm tip had been set back. The short rifles,and rifles with the pencil barrels will bring a premium for sure. Don

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody has records available for the Winchester M1894 from serial number 1 to 353999.

Here's a picture of a rare one I had - let it go last year. It was a .32/40 20 inch short rifle with half octagon barrel, pistol grip, checkered, full deluxe wood, takedown, double set triggers and sling eyes:

Steve, I would have had a "REAL HARD TIME" letting go if i had owned that one ,its a beauty!! Don

Don - the rifle did have a couple issues. The barrel blue and magazine tube blue was original but there was some cold blue on the receiver. In addition, when I got it I took the tang sight off and there was one extra tap hole in the tang. And, the wood was fairly heavily sanded and the metal was quite proud over the wood on the upper and lower tang. That can't be fixed or covered up. You know I am a pretty fussy collector so I wasn't very attached to it.

Wow, Boltman
I have seen some nice 94's over the years, but this one certainly appears to belong in the upper 10%. Hope the guy who has it appreciates his nice rifle.

P.S.
Assuming it all was original, a few issues with the blue and wood are largely incidental...