Shoot it, fixt it or wall hang it?

[Sigloso]

For those of you obsessed with my identity, feel free to search the inter webs I’ve been asking about this a lot.


Here goes, it’s a Winchester 1894 in 30.30. Serial number gives it a manufacture date of 1915 barrel marked 30WCF

The wood mix match, the metal and auction are in really good shape and it’s been re-blued probably about the time I was born


Found this crack on the tang on the stock.

[sigking]

Are the stocks usually that badly fitted on the old lever action? Wood shrinks over time, but that looks like fairly large gaps. Would that lead to that cracking? A better fitting stock slow it down? Welding would fix it IMO.

[Sigloso]

Are the stocks usually that badly fitted on the old lever action? Wood shrinks over time, but that looks like fairly large gaps. Would that lead to that cracking? A better fitting stock slow it down? Welding would fix it IMO.

To be fair the photo is zoomed in for a photo of a hairline crack. That said, it’s not a very good fit. I’d bet dollars to doughnuts it was an “upgrade” in the last 105 years. 1, there is no engraving on the receiver, 2 the forgrip is standard walnut, 3 it doesn’t fit all that well and 4 the stock is an amazing burled walnut

[sigking]

That stock is awesome. If you wanted to make a shooter, get it welded. Bet those cracks are common for those older rifles. Wonder if drilling a small hole at the end of the crack would stop it from getting worse and shoot as is.

[Ram Rod]

That area of the receiver looks to have been heated and hammered on before.
If anything, I figure it has been stored under less than ideal conditions. Doubtful shrinkage of the wood would be a factor, more likely swelling.
Be a good winter time project. Nice piece.
Shoot it and or fix it. It deserves better than hanging on a wall. But if you had a bar/pool table/game room it might look okay too.

[jugrunner]

I'd just give it to jugrunner ..

[warp2diesel]

Go for TIG welding from an experienced welder.

[Mandaree36]

Wow that is a one hell of a stock.

Personally I would get it repaired and shoot it. As Warp said, take it to a good TIG welder and go from there.

[meltblown]

Go for TIG welding from an experienced welder.

Yup. If you can find someone that can do it very delicately. Still you need some refinish. Cool rifle BTW.

[madmanmccoy]

SIGGY.......Old '94 is worth fixing correctly , let a 'Smith repair that crack ,not some welder that welds car bumpers & S- - -t...you louse up the heat treat on that RCVR & you're DONE............

That stock is obviously someone's "custom" work:
1-wood is too 'fancy' &
2- NO Winchester ever left the Factory "fit" like that..........

that could be a really nice Rifle , finished the right way ..... .30-30.....30WCF is a good round Texas Rangers used it plenty.............

[Sigloso]

Wow that is a one hell of a stock.

Personally I would get it repaired and shoot it. As Warp said, take it to a good TIG welder and go from there.

That’s what I’m thinking.

I ran into a previous owner today and I believe him to be unaware of the cracks. Our working theory is the cracks occurred that the same time the original stock was broken.


I wish I could take a decent photo of the stock, the photo I posted doesn’t do it any justice at all.

[madmanmccoy]

That wood cost someone a fair amount
those old LeverGuns look great with slimmed down old style Crescent Butt stock & foreend

[Mainer]

I definitely would have some repairs done, stock properly inletted, and shoot it. Those cracks are NOT normal or common on a 94 Winchester. Bubba has struck again.
There is very little stress in the area those cracks appear if the upper tang is properly inletted with a small clearance cut at the rear.
Recoil force is taken up by the very front end of the buttstock, not the tang.

Madmanmccoy, nice collection of old-timers you got there!

[Sigloso]

I definitely would have some repairs done, stock properly inletted, and shoot it. Those cracks are NOT normal or common on a 94 Winchester. Bubba has struck again.
There is very little stress in the area those cracks appear if the upper tang is properly inletted with a small clearance cut at the rear.
Recoil force is taken up by the very front end of the buttstock, not the tang.

Madmanmccoy, nice collection of old-timers you got there!

I’ve been posting all over the internet and that’s what I wanted to hear, if that was a common failure on the 94.

I don’t think it was bubba...driven over or used as a prybar original stock broken and tang cracked at the same time.

[1biggun]

Looks to have possably been previously welded and repaired.

The reciver was likely damaged when Ebinizer Sigloso got in an altercation with a Grizzly bear while tying g to have sex with it after a 3 day bender on the reservation with Chief Sippy Sip.

I'd have it repaired and the stock needs to be properly fitted if possable.

The collector value is low so make something nice out of it if possable

[Sigloso]

Chief Sippy sip LOL

Now all I need is to find a qualified person to do the weld.

I like it as a shooter with no plans on selling. I like my guns for me.

[Sigloso]

What a fantastic collection. I’d love to build a collection but for now I’d be happy to shoot the one.

That wood cost someone a fair amount
those old LeverGuns look great with slimmed down old style Crescent Butt stock & foreend

[Mainer]

Yeah, an accident or severe misuse would explain the damage, such as using the thing for a club I suppose. I have a similar fancy stock that I found on ebay for an old 94 that I am gathering parts for. Some day, I'll get it on the rifle, maybe.

I like the 94's and have half a dozen "pre-64's" ranging from 1905 to 1960 in 30 WCF and 32 Special, including a Model 64 that is a favorite.

Good luck with your 94, it's worth the restoration.

[madmanmccoy]

Those guns aren't mine Fellas .....sure wish they were.....my Wife's Dad {RIP} had old 94s with the crescent butts and he hunted with them till the day he died ,
He shot some MONSTER Racked Whitetails consistently ....all on Forever Wild open state land, the Guy was unreal.......must run in the Blood too,
...... 1st time I took Mrs.Madman hunting she had a big ,BIG 8point walk right out in front of her as we were easing around this big Hemlock swamp.....
She got all wound up & motioned "BIG"!! to me [I was about 40 yards away} "BIG"!!
"SHOOT"...I pantomined .....and she did.....dropped him, 1shot with her Dad's.30WCF......

Yeah, wish those guns were mine but ,just using the pics to show the crescent butts stock styles

I've always been on the lookout for some like that.......

This Kid I know, wanted to start hunting ,shooting ,so he goes looking.....

He got hold of me a few years back, says: "Come on & check out what I found!"

He found an early mfd. 94 , .32SPL, a Savage 99 .303Savage cal. and a '99Savage,straight grip carbine .30-30 ......some guys have all the luck , this Fella was 20 at the time & in college.............
I told him you have no idea how LUCKY you are.........
He says "OH YEAH I do" .....right time right place ......Girl he met in a class told him she"Has an Uncle who wants to GIVE his old "Deer Rifles" to a young guy who would cherish & USE them"...........................

Some guys are BORN lucky!!

[JimMac]

I belive broken tangs are pretty common on these old winchesters. I had a 1912 rifle with a broken tang, had a gunsmith tig wrld it back together for me.
you can join winchester collectors forum and get alot of great info there. jim

[Sigloso]

I belive broken tangs are pretty common on these old winchesters. I had a 1912 rifle with a broken tang, had a gunsmith tig wrld it back together for me.
you can join winchester collectors forum and get alot of great info there. jim

I’ll have to google that. I had expected more from THR but as it turns out the files has been the most help, go figure


Here’s some photos

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[Sigloso]

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[chillypepper]

Were it me, I'd fix it. Shoot it. Then wall hang it, when I'm not shooting it.

[Ol Okie]

Your wood gives me WOOD sir!!!!

[JimMac]

here's my saddlering carbine, pulled out of a wall in tombstone when they demod a house 2 years ago. jim

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