Winchester model 94 question. . .

hipshot45

I fondeled a pre '64 model 94 in .32 spl today. Its in, what i'd consider, 90%+ condition and undrilled for a scope. I've never seen one chambered in this caliber. Is it rare and what would a fair price be? The Lgs has it marked at $450.00. What say you guys?

shotgunshooter3

In good condition it's worth $450 regardless since those aren't made anymore. If you can check the serial number and confirm that it is indeed a pre '64, stop messing around on this forum and go buy it.

sakodude

I agree with SS3, any pre-64 model 94 that is not junk will be worth 450.00 regardless of caliber. Even post 64's with the possible exception of the hardwood stocked ranger line seldom sell for much less than that.
Now if you don't hand load 32spl can be a issue finding ammo. Not impossible, but difficult. I'd be buying it regardless if I were you.

Sako

Big Chief

I had one (.32 Spl) which was stolen from my Dad's place back in 92. I imagine that's not a bad price these days.

Big Chief

sakodude wrote: »

I agree with SS3, any pre-64 model 94 that is not junk will be worth 450.00 regardless of caliber. Even post 64's with the possible exception of the hardwood stocked ranger line seldom sell for much less than that.
Now if you don't hand load 32spl can be a issue finding ammo. Not impossible, but difficult. I'd be buying it regardless if I were you.

Sako

.32 Spl ammo is fairly common in Alabama K-Marts/Wal-Marts or was, anyhow. I haven't looked in over 20 years though. May be a "Southern" kinda thing with that caliber.

tennmike

At that price in that condition, I'd grab it, throw down the money, and run! That's a fair price in 90%+ condition, and then some for a pre-64. If you can't find the ammunition locally, it's pretty easy to find online. Only thing I'd say to look closely at is the bore for pitting.

snake284

hipshot45 wrote: »

I fondeled a pre '64 model 94 in .32 spl today. Its in, what i'd consider, 90%+ condition and undrilled for a scope. I've never seen one chambered in this caliber. Is it rare and what would a fair price be? The Lgs has it marked at $450.00. What say you guys?

Bye it. 32 Special was their "Other" Chambering.

Actually, the 94 was chambered in many cartridges throught it's time but the 32 was one of the more popular in it coming in second to the 30-30. I've read on more than one occasion though that due to the twist rate in the barrel the crown is very sensitive. If it's worn just a little it will throw bullets around. So you may end up having it recrowned. However that's a relatively cheap fix.

gunrunner428

Not hugely numerous, but not necessarily rare either. Popular in the East and Midwest deer woods, despite one rumor I heard that Winchester built the .32 Special round out of .30-30 brass to cover a production blunder of .32 caliber barrels being chambered for .30-30, but unless the barrels were originally intended for .32-20 or some such round, I find that a bit hard to swallow...

I digress. Any pre-'64 Winchester, be it 94, 70, or other model, would be worth $450 easily most places. And depending on where you're at, .32 Special shouldn't be hard to find, although not as widely varied and available as .30-30. You'd get your best performance by handloading, but that's just an excuse to take over a room in the house with a bench, reloading dies, and all the associated goodies.

snake284

The thing is they stopped making them in 32 years back but always made 30-30s. Probably 3/4s of them made were 30-30, not counting the big bores and 307s.

DanChamberlain

Even with 50% bluing I'd pay that if the bore looked good.

Dan

DunRanull

Have you run the serial # to see when it was made? Any pre-64 is worth that around here.. even a post 64 might be close in good condition, seeing as no more have been made for awhile.. If I had the bucks I'd glom onto it...

hipshot45

Thanks for all the info guys. I haven't run the serial # but i'm confident that it is a pre '64. I'm gonna take a second look at it, especially the bore. Quite honestly, i'm not even shopping for one, but i thought it was good buy. I may drop the cash on it just to have one. You know the story, you never need an excuse to buy a good gun. Am i right?

drwalker47

hipshot45 wrote: »

I fondeled a pre '64 model 94 in .32 spl today. Its in, what i'd consider, 90%+ condition and undrilled for a scope. I've never seen one chambered in this caliber. Is it rare and what would a fair price be? The Lgs has it marked at $450.00. What say you guys?

A pre-64, undrilled, 90+ percent...go for it!

robert38-55

For that price BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

shooter

I've posted photos of this one before (30-30), serial # in the 870,000 range dates it to 1919. I also got another Mod. 94 (30-30) for Christmas of 1971 and its serial # is in the 3,493,000 range. It was made in 1971.
1964 models started with serial # 2,700,000. So, if the one you are considering is a "pre-64", it ought to have a serial # below 2,700,000.

Go for it if it is.

drwalker47

shooter wrote: »

I've posted photos of this one before (30-30), serial # in the 870,000 range dates it to 1919. I also got another Mod. 94 (30-30) for Christmas of 1971 and its serial # is in the 3,493,000 range. It was made in 1971.
1964 models started with serial # 2,700,000. So, if the one you are considering is a "pre-64", it ought to have a serial # below 2,700,000.

Go for it if it is.

Lord..dy that is a gorgeous rifle.