"We believe that no repeating rifle system ever made will appeal to the eye and understanding of the rifleman as this will and that use will continue to warrant first impressions." - Winchester catalog, November 1894
With only a few minor changes in its construction, the Model 1894 / Model 94 was manufactured continuously for over 100 years. This was the first lever action repeating rifle model on the market that was designed especially for smokeless powder cartridges. Note that the carbine style buttstock was changed on the carbine model in 1937, to a shotgun-style stock.
The Model 1894 was the first sporting gun to pass the 1,000,000 mark. The millionth 94 was presented in 1927 to President Calvin Coolidge. Subsequent benchmark Model 94 rifles were presented to Presidents Harry Truman (1948) and Dwight Eisenhower (1953). Serial number 2.5 million was assembled in 1961.
We do not manufacture the shorter forearms for the Trapper model, nor do we offer stocks or forearms for the special .22 caliber 1894.
Early-style stocks fitted to later rifles:
Rifles produced after 1948 with serial numbers greater than 1,520,000 (approximate) will NOT accommodate early-style stocks due to changes in the upper receiver tang. After this serial number the tang was widened slightly on either side of the hammer. For these later production rifles we have developed a special Cowboy Shooter Retrofit buttstocks, which have the same styling and outside dimensions of early 1894 rifle carbine stocks, but with inletting to correctly work with later Model 94 receivers. These stocks are listed near the bottom of the page. Please be sure of your serial number and/or date of manufacture when ordering.
Also, please note changes in receiver and forearm designs which occurred in the 1950s. These important differences are explained for each forearm style listed below.