Welcome, if you are a newcomer to this fun bi-weekly segment of AllOutdoor.com! If you’re just joining us, we kicked off our deep dive into the Winchester Model 1894 in Part I, where we covered the history of John Browning’s legendary lever-action design. Today, we’re tackling what might be the most confusing aspect of the Model 1894/94: its variations. This is going to be a long one, so settle in.
Curious Relics Coverage on AllOutdoor
Welcome to our recurring series of “Curious Relics.” Here, we want to share all of our experiences, knowledge, misadventures, and passion for older firearms that one might categorize as a Curio & Relic – any firearm that is at least 50 years old according to the ATF. Hopefully along the way you can garner a greater appreciation for older firearms like we do, and simultaneously you can teach us things as well through sharing your own expertise and thoughts in the Comments. Understanding the firearms of old, their importance, and their development which lead to many of the arms we now cherish today is incredibly fascinating and we hope you enjoy what we have to share, too!
Variations: Winchester Model 1894/94
Let me be honest right up front: Winchester offered an almost overwhelming array of options and special orders for the Model 1894. For decades, you could walk into a gun shop with a catalog and custom-order darn near anything you wanted: barrel length, barrel profile, stock configuration, engraving, you name it. The Cody Firearms Museum in Wyoming holds the special order books that document this insane variety, and trust me, those records are wild. For the sake of research sanity and word count, we’re focusing on the core production variations, ones I settled on, the actual cataloged models that Winchester manufactured as distinct versions. Everything else, takedown features, octagon barrels, stock options, custom short “Trapper” carbines were features you could add to these base configurations, not variations themselves.
What we’re covering here are the seven true variations of the Winchester Model 1894/94 that you’re actually likely to encounter in the wild.
1. The Rifle (26″ Barrel)
The original configuration. When Winchester introduced the Model 1894 in late 1894, the standard rifle came with a 26-inch barrel and a full-length magazine tube. This was marketed as a hunting rifle, not a saddle gun, and it was aimed squarely at sportsmen who wanted reach and sight radius. The rifle had a straight-grip stock with a crescent steel buttplate.
![Winchester Model 1894]( "Winchester Model 1894")
Here’s the thing: rifles never sold like carbines. By a huge margin. The 20-inch carbine was always the people’s choice, and Winchester eventually stopped cataloging the standard rifle configuration in the early 1930s because nobody was buying them. But during the Model 1894’s heyday from 1894 through the 1920s, plenty of rifles left the factory. Octagon barrels were a popular special order option on rifles, and you’ll see a lot of survivors with that profile. They’re beautiful guns, but they’re less common than carbines, which makes them more collectible today.
2. The Carbine (20″ Barrel)
This is it. The carbine is THE Winchester 94. When someone says “Winchester 94,” they’re almost certainly talking about a 20-inch barreled carbine. This configuration was an absolute phenomenon. Shorter, lighter, faster handling than the rifle – it was everything a saddle gun needed to be and everything a brush hunter wanted. The carbine came in two main styles that are worth understanding:
Saddle Ring Carbine: This was the Western market version. It had a saddle ring mounted on the left side of the receiver, attached to a bar. The idea was you could clip this to your saddle rigging and have the gun hang right there while you rode. In reality, most guys just used the ring to thread a leather thong through for carrying. The saddle ring carbines are what you see in every Western movie ever made.
![Winchester Model 1894]( "Winchester Model 1894")
“First Winchester Model 1894 Carbine Ever Produced.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4095/1017/first-winchester-model-1894-carbine-ever-produced. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Eastern Carbine: Same exact gun, but without the saddle ring. Winchester figured out pretty quickly that guys hunting whitetails in Pennsylvania didn’t need a saddle ring, so they started offering an “Eastern” version. It’s the exact same carbine otherwise – 20-inch barrel, full or two-thirds magazine tube, carbine-style stock. From what I have read, Winchester started dropping the saddle rings on a lot of production carbines by the late 1920s anyway, as horses became less relevant and automobiles took over. The carbine is far and away the most common Model 1894 you’ll find. It outsold the rifle by orders of magnitude and it’s what made Winchester rich.
3. Pre-War Pre-64 (Pre-August 1942)
Now we’re getting into the era-based variations, and this is where collectors get really particular. The Pre-War Pre-64 guns are considered the absolute pinnacle of Winchester Model 94 quality. We’re talking about guns made from 1894 up until August 1942, when Winchester halted receiver production for World War II.
What makes these special? Everything. The receivers were forged and machined from 4140 bar stock. Every part was hand-fitted. The finish was Euro salt bluing, which gives that deep, rich color you don’t see on modern guns. The wood-to-metal fit was immaculate because skilled craftsmen actually gave a damn about how the gun looked when it left the factory. These guns used solid steel pins throughout – no hollow roll pins, no shortcuts.
![Winchester Model 1894]( "Winchester Model 1894")
1917 Manufactured Winchester Model 1894
One identifying feature: Pre-War guns have what collectors call “long wood,” meaning the forearm extends further down the barrel than later guns. There are also differences in hammer styles over the years – early guns had “cone hammers” with a distinctive conical shape, which transitioned to “large ring” hammers around 1900, then “small ring” hammers around 1903-1904. These are the guns that command serious money today. A Pre-War 94 in good condition with original finish is worth considerably more than its post-war siblings.
4. Post-War Pre-64 (1945-1964)
When Winchester resumed civilian production after WWII in 1945, the guns were still high quality, but there were subtle changes. The most noticeable is “short wood” – the forearm is shorter than on pre-war guns. Another distinctive feature that appeared in the late 1940s is the “flat band” carbine. Instead of the earlier barrel band style, post-war carbines often featured a flatter, less rounded band holding the forearm and magazine tube. This is a dead giveaway you’re looking at a post-war gun.
![Winchester Model 1894]( "Winchester Model 1894")
1962 Manufactured Winchester Model 1894
The Post-War Pre-64 guns are still forged receivers, still solid pins, still quality manufacturing. They’re not quite as hand-fitted as the pre-war guns, but they’re miles ahead of what came next. Winchester was still using good steel and good processes, and these guns are rock-solid reliable. Collectors love them, and they still command premium prices – just not quite as much as pre-war examples. Production ran from 1945 until mid-1964, when everything changed.
5. Post-64 Top Eject (1964-1982)
Here’s where the wheels came off, at least in terms of Winchester’s reputation. In 1964, Winchester made sweeping manufacturing changes to cut costs and compete with cheaper rifles flooding the market. The suits at Olin Corporation (Winchester’s parent company) decided that hand-fitting and expensive machining had to go. What followed was a disaster for Winchester’s image that the company never fully recovered from.
The changes: Receivers went from forged bar stock to sintered steel or graphite steel castings. The shell lifter went from forged steel to stamped sheet metal. Solid steel pins were replaced with hollow roll pins. The finish went from proper bluing to, in some cases, baked-on paint. It was cheaper, faster, and it looked like hell compared to Pre-64 guns.
![Winchester Model 1894]( "Winchester Model 1894")
1965 Manufactured Winchester Model 1894
“Winchester Model 94 Lever Action Carbine.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/5013/1278/winchester-model-94-lever-action-carbine. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Here’s the thing – functionally, these guns still work fine. They’re not unsafe. They’ll shoot just as straight as a Pre-64. But they don’t have the soul. The fit and finish took a nosedive, and anyone with eyes could see it. Winchester tried to compete with Marlin and Savage on price, and in doing so, they cheapened the most iconic lever gun in American history. Collectors today draw a hard line at 1964. “Pre-64” is a badge of honor. “Post-64” means you’re getting a shooter, not a collector piece. The market reflects this – Pre-64 guns are often double or triple the price of Post-64 guns in similar condition.
6. Angle Eject (1982-2006)
By 1982, Winchester (now under new ownership as U.S. Repeating Arms Company) realized they had a problem. The original Model 1894 ejected spent cases straight up and over the shooter’s right shoulder. That’s fine with iron sights, but if you wanted to mount a scope, you were screwed. The ejecting case would smack right into the bottom of the scope. Competitors like Marlin had side-ejecting actions that allowed easy scope mounting, and Winchester was losing sales because of it.
So they redesigned the ejection system. The Angle Eject model ejects cases out to the right side at an angle instead of straight up. The visual tell is a prominent cutout on the right side of the receiver’s ejection port. These guns came from the factory drilled and tapped for scope bases, and most included a hammer extension so you could still cock the hammer with a scope mounted.
![Winchester Model 1894]( "Winchester Model 1894")
Functionally, this was a major improvement for hunters who wanted optics. The Angle Eject 94 is a practical hunting rifle in a way the top-eject never was if you wanted a scope. But here’s the rub – by 1992, Winchester added a crossbolt safety right through the receiver, which collectors hate. It’s ugly, it’s unnecessary on a gun with a half-cock position, and it put holes in the receiver that purists see as structural compromise.
Early Angle Eject guns (1982-1984ish) also had different scope mount hole patterns, so if you’re buying bases, make sure they match your gun’s vintage.
7. Big Bore (1978-2006)
Winchester knew the standard Model 94 action couldn’t safely handle cartridges much more powerful than the .30-30. So when they wanted to offer bigger calibers, they beefed up the receiver. The Big Bore 94 has a visibly larger, stronger receiver designed to handle high-pressure cartridges. The Big Bore was chambered in .375 Winchester (running at 52,000 psi – serious pressure for a lever gun), .307 Winchester, .356 Winchester, and later .450 Marlin. These are legitimate big-game calibers. The .375 Win especially was Winchester’s attempt to give hunters more punch in a lever gun platform.
Big Bores were made in both top-eject (1978-1982) and angle-eject (1983-2006) versions. Most were in the XTR grade, which meant checkered walnut stocks and better overall fit and finish than standard Post-64 guns. Serial numbers often started with “BB” for early top-eject Big Bores, then “AE” for angle-eject versions, before being integrated into the regular Model 94 serial range after 1984.
![Winchester Model 1894]( "Winchester Model 1894")
Chambered in .375 Winchester
Here’s an interesting note: Winchester later chambered the .450 Marlin in standard Model 94 receivers (not the Big Bore frame), which raised eyebrows among folks who wondered if the extra beef was really necessary in the first place. That said, Big Bores are sought after today, especially in .375 and .307 Winchester, because those calibers give you genuine stopping power in a lever gun that’s not a Marlin .45-70.
What About All The Other Stuff?
Now, you might be thinking: “What about takedown rifles? What about octagon barrels? What about those short ‘Trapper’ carbines?” Those were options, not variations. Winchester offered takedown frames as a special order – the barrel and magazine tube assembly separated from the receiver for easier transport or storage. Octagon barrels, half-octagon barrels, different stock configurations, fancy engraving, tang sights – all special order features you could add to any of the base variations above.
![Winchester Model 1894]( "Winchester Model 1894")
1894 Takedown Trapper
The “Trapper” carbine deserves special mention because people always ask about it. Winchester never cataloged a model called the “Trapper.” What they did do was accept special orders for short-barreled carbines, sometimes called “Baby Carbines” or “Special Short Carbines,” with barrels as short as 14-16 inches. Winchester discontinued these special short orders in 1933, probably due to the National Firearms Act concerns brewing at the time. Today, “Trapper” is a generic term for any short-barreled 94, including the factory 16-inch versions Winchester made in later years. But if someone tries to sell you a “genuine factory Trapper” from the 1920s, know that it was a custom order, not a cataloged variation.
The Spin-Off Models
Winchester also produced three distinct models that were built on the Model 1894 action but carried different model numbers:
Winchester Model 55 (1924-1932): When rifle sales slumped in the 1920s, Winchester tried to revive them with the Model 55. It had a 24-inch barrel, a half-magazine holding three rounds, and came in both takedown and solid-frame versions. It was only offered in .30-30, .25-35, and .32 Winchester Special. Winchester made about 20,000-21,000 of them before giving up in 1932. They just couldn’t compete with the standard Model 94 carbine in sales, so Winchester killed the model.
![Winchester Model 1894]( "Winchester Model 1894")
Winchester Model 55
Winchester Model 64 (1933-1957): This was Winchester’s attempt at an upscale sporting rifle. The Model 64 came standard with a pistol-grip stock and a semi-beavertail forearm, giving it a more “refined” look than the straight-grip Model 94. It was offered in 20, 24, and 26-inch barrels, with .30-30 being the most common chambering. The rare .219 Zipper chambering (1938-1941) is highly collectible. Winchester consulted with Colonel Townsend Whelen on the design, and the result was a genuinely nice rifle. About 66,000-67,000 were made. Winchester briefly reintroduced it in 1972-73, all in .30-30.
![Winchester Model 1894]( "Winchester Model 1894")
Winchester Model 64
Ted Williams Model 100 (1964-1980): This was simply a Model 94 carbine with Sears branding, sold as part of Sears’ deal with retired baseball legend Ted Williams. Same gun, different rollmark. Sears sold a lot of them, and they’re perfectly good shooters, but they don’t command the same collector interest as Winchester-branded guns.
![Winchester Model 1894]( "Winchester Model 1894")
Ted Williams Model 100
Final Thoughts on Variations
Look, the Winchester Model 1894/94 has one of the most complicated production histories of any firearm in existence. Over 130 years and 7+ million guns, Winchester changed things constantly. Sometimes for good reasons, sometimes for cost-cutting, sometimes just because the market demanded it. What I’ve laid out here are the core variations you’ll actually encounter and need to understand if you’re buying, selling, or collecting these rifles.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, we are closing out the second part of our Winchester Model 1894 series. Part III will tackle the ease or the strain that is dating these rifles and sorting out serial numbers, production years, and all the identifying marks that’ll help you figure out exactly what you’ve got. Till then, keep an eye out for more information on the most successful lever-action rifle in American history. I hope to get the chance to go over some more juicy details soon!
![Winchester Model 1894]( "Winchester Model 1894")
In closing, I hope our Curious Relics segment informed as well as entertained. This all was written in hopes of continued firearm appreciation and preservation. We did not just realize how guns were supposed to look and function. It was a long and tedious process that has shaped the world we live in. So, I put it to you! Is there a firearm out there that you feel does not get much notoriety? What should our next Curious Relics topic cover? As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
The post Curious Relics #120: Winchester Model 1894 Part II appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.
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Curious Relics Coverage on AllOutdoor
- Curious Relics #115: The Forgotten Auto – Smith & Wesson Model 1913
- Curious Relics #116: Smith & Wesson Model 1913 Part II – Variations
- Curious Relics #117: Smith & Wesson Model 1913 – Part III: Dating, Specifications & Parts
- Curious Relics #118: Smith & Wesson Model 1913 – Part IV: Range Time
Welcome to our recurring series of “Curious Relics.” Here, we want to share all of our experiences, knowledge, misadventures, and passion for older firearms that one might categorize as a Curio & Relic – any firearm that is at least 50 years old according to the ATF. Hopefully along the way you can garner a greater appreciation for older firearms like we do, and simultaneously you can teach us things as well through sharing your own expertise and thoughts in the Comments. Understanding the firearms of old, their importance, and their development which lead to many of the arms we now cherish today is incredibly fascinating and we hope you enjoy what we have to share, too!
Variations: Winchester Model 1894/94
Let me be honest right up front: Winchester offered an almost overwhelming array of options and special orders for the Model 1894. For decades, you could walk into a gun shop with a catalog and custom-order darn near anything you wanted: barrel length, barrel profile, stock configuration, engraving, you name it. The Cody Firearms Museum in Wyoming holds the special order books that document this insane variety, and trust me, those records are wild. For the sake of research sanity and word count, we’re focusing on the core production variations, ones I settled on, the actual cataloged models that Winchester manufactured as distinct versions. Everything else, takedown features, octagon barrels, stock options, custom short “Trapper” carbines were features you could add to these base configurations, not variations themselves.
What we’re covering here are the seven true variations of the Winchester Model 1894/94 that you’re actually likely to encounter in the wild.
1. The Rifle (26″ Barrel)
The original configuration. When Winchester introduced the Model 1894 in late 1894, the standard rifle came with a 26-inch barrel and a full-length magazine tube. This was marketed as a hunting rifle, not a saddle gun, and it was aimed squarely at sportsmen who wanted reach and sight radius. The rifle had a straight-grip stock with a crescent steel buttplate.
“Winchester Model 1894 Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1045/2235/winchester-model-1894-lever-action-rifle-with-factory-letter. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Here’s the thing: rifles never sold like carbines. By a huge margin. The 20-inch carbine was always the people’s choice, and Winchester eventually stopped cataloging the standard rifle configuration in the early 1930s because nobody was buying them. But during the Model 1894’s heyday from 1894 through the 1920s, plenty of rifles left the factory. Octagon barrels were a popular special order option on rifles, and you’ll see a lot of survivors with that profile. They’re beautiful guns, but they’re less common than carbines, which makes them more collectible today.
2. The Carbine (20″ Barrel)
This is it. The carbine is THE Winchester 94. When someone says “Winchester 94,” they’re almost certainly talking about a 20-inch barreled carbine. This configuration was an absolute phenomenon. Shorter, lighter, faster handling than the rifle – it was everything a saddle gun needed to be and everything a brush hunter wanted. The carbine came in two main styles that are worth understanding:
Saddle Ring Carbine: This was the Western market version. It had a saddle ring mounted on the left side of the receiver, attached to a bar. The idea was you could clip this to your saddle rigging and have the gun hang right there while you rode. In reality, most guys just used the ring to thread a leather thong through for carrying. The saddle ring carbines are what you see in every Western movie ever made.
“First Winchester Model 1894 Carbine Ever Produced.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4095/1017/first-winchester-model-1894-carbine-ever-produced. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Eastern Carbine: Same exact gun, but without the saddle ring. Winchester figured out pretty quickly that guys hunting whitetails in Pennsylvania didn’t need a saddle ring, so they started offering an “Eastern” version. It’s the exact same carbine otherwise – 20-inch barrel, full or two-thirds magazine tube, carbine-style stock. From what I have read, Winchester started dropping the saddle rings on a lot of production carbines by the late 1920s anyway, as horses became less relevant and automobiles took over. The carbine is far and away the most common Model 1894 you’ll find. It outsold the rifle by orders of magnitude and it’s what made Winchester rich.
3. Pre-War Pre-64 (Pre-August 1942)
Now we’re getting into the era-based variations, and this is where collectors get really particular. The Pre-War Pre-64 guns are considered the absolute pinnacle of Winchester Model 94 quality. We’re talking about guns made from 1894 up until August 1942, when Winchester halted receiver production for World War II.
What makes these special? Everything. The receivers were forged and machined from 4140 bar stock. Every part was hand-fitted. The finish was Euro salt bluing, which gives that deep, rich color you don’t see on modern guns. The wood-to-metal fit was immaculate because skilled craftsmen actually gave a damn about how the gun looked when it left the factory. These guns used solid steel pins throughout – no hollow roll pins, no shortcuts.
1917 Manufactured Winchester Model 1894
“Winchester Model 1894 Lever Action Short Rifle.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1043/2070/winchester-model-1894-lever-action-short-rifle. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
One identifying feature: Pre-War guns have what collectors call “long wood,” meaning the forearm extends further down the barrel than later guns. There are also differences in hammer styles over the years – early guns had “cone hammers” with a distinctive conical shape, which transitioned to “large ring” hammers around 1900, then “small ring” hammers around 1903-1904. These are the guns that command serious money today. A Pre-War 94 in good condition with original finish is worth considerably more than its post-war siblings.
4. Post-War Pre-64 (1945-1964)
When Winchester resumed civilian production after WWII in 1945, the guns were still high quality, but there were subtle changes. The most noticeable is “short wood” – the forearm is shorter than on pre-war guns. Another distinctive feature that appeared in the late 1940s is the “flat band” carbine. Instead of the earlier barrel band style, post-war carbines often featured a flatter, less rounded band holding the forearm and magazine tube. This is a dead giveaway you’re looking at a post-war gun.
1962 Manufactured Winchester Model 1894
“Pre-64 Winchester Model 94 Carbine with Original Box.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/89/3064/pre64-winchester-model-94-carbine-with-original-box. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
The Post-War Pre-64 guns are still forged receivers, still solid pins, still quality manufacturing. They’re not quite as hand-fitted as the pre-war guns, but they’re miles ahead of what came next. Winchester was still using good steel and good processes, and these guns are rock-solid reliable. Collectors love them, and they still command premium prices – just not quite as much as pre-war examples. Production ran from 1945 until mid-1964, when everything changed.
5. Post-64 Top Eject (1964-1982)
Here’s where the wheels came off, at least in terms of Winchester’s reputation. In 1964, Winchester made sweeping manufacturing changes to cut costs and compete with cheaper rifles flooding the market. The suits at Olin Corporation (Winchester’s parent company) decided that hand-fitting and expensive machining had to go. What followed was a disaster for Winchester’s image that the company never fully recovered from.
The changes: Receivers went from forged bar stock to sintered steel or graphite steel castings. The shell lifter went from forged steel to stamped sheet metal. Solid steel pins were replaced with hollow roll pins. The finish went from proper bluing to, in some cases, baked-on paint. It was cheaper, faster, and it looked like hell compared to Pre-64 guns.
1965 Manufactured Winchester Model 1894
“Winchester Model 94 Lever Action Carbine.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/5013/1278/winchester-model-94-lever-action-carbine. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Here’s the thing – functionally, these guns still work fine. They’re not unsafe. They’ll shoot just as straight as a Pre-64. But they don’t have the soul. The fit and finish took a nosedive, and anyone with eyes could see it. Winchester tried to compete with Marlin and Savage on price, and in doing so, they cheapened the most iconic lever gun in American history. Collectors today draw a hard line at 1964. “Pre-64” is a badge of honor. “Post-64” means you’re getting a shooter, not a collector piece. The market reflects this – Pre-64 guns are often double or triple the price of Post-64 guns in similar condition.
6. Angle Eject (1982-2006)
By 1982, Winchester (now under new ownership as U.S. Repeating Arms Company) realized they had a problem. The original Model 1894 ejected spent cases straight up and over the shooter’s right shoulder. That’s fine with iron sights, but if you wanted to mount a scope, you were screwed. The ejecting case would smack right into the bottom of the scope. Competitors like Marlin had side-ejecting actions that allowed easy scope mounting, and Winchester was losing sales because of it.
So they redesigned the ejection system. The Angle Eject model ejects cases out to the right side at an angle instead of straight up. The visual tell is a prominent cutout on the right side of the receiver’s ejection port. These guns came from the factory drilled and tapped for scope bases, and most included a hammer extension so you could still cock the hammer with a scope mounted.
“Three Boxed Winchester Model 94 AE XTR Angle Eject Lever Action Rifles in 7-30 Waters.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1025/933/three-boxed-winchester-model-94-ae-xtr-angle-eject-lever-action. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.
Functionally, this was a major improvement for hunters who wanted optics. The Angle Eject 94 is a practical hunting rifle in a way the top-eject never was if you wanted a scope. But here’s the rub – by 1992, Winchester added a crossbolt safety right through the receiver, which collectors hate. It’s ugly, it’s unnecessary on a gun with a half-cock position, and it put holes in the receiver that purists see as structural compromise.
Early Angle Eject guns (1982-1984ish) also had different scope mount hole patterns, so if you’re buying bases, make sure they match your gun’s vintage.
7. Big Bore (1978-2006)
Winchester knew the standard Model 94 action couldn’t safely handle cartridges much more powerful than the .30-30. So when they wanted to offer bigger calibers, they beefed up the receiver. The Big Bore 94 has a visibly larger, stronger receiver designed to handle high-pressure cartridges. The Big Bore was chambered in .375 Winchester (running at 52,000 psi – serious pressure for a lever gun), .307 Winchester, .356 Winchester, and later .450 Marlin. These are legitimate big-game calibers. The .375 Win especially was Winchester’s attempt to give hunters more punch in a lever gun platform.
Big Bores were made in both top-eject (1978-1982) and angle-eject (1983-2006) versions. Most were in the XTR grade, which meant checkered walnut stocks and better overall fit and finish than standard Post-64 guns. Serial numbers often started with “BB” for early top-eject Big Bores, then “AE” for angle-eject versions, before being integrated into the regular Model 94 serial range after 1984.
Chambered in .375 Winchester
“Winchester Model 94 Big Bore Lever Action Rifle in .375 Winchester.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/5019/752/winchester-model-94-big-bore-rifle-in-375-winchester. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Here’s an interesting note: Winchester later chambered the .450 Marlin in standard Model 94 receivers (not the Big Bore frame), which raised eyebrows among folks who wondered if the extra beef was really necessary in the first place. That said, Big Bores are sought after today, especially in .375 and .307 Winchester, because those calibers give you genuine stopping power in a lever gun that’s not a Marlin .45-70.
What About All The Other Stuff?
Now, you might be thinking: “What about takedown rifles? What about octagon barrels? What about those short ‘Trapper’ carbines?” Those were options, not variations. Winchester offered takedown frames as a special order – the barrel and magazine tube assembly separated from the receiver for easier transport or storage. Octagon barrels, half-octagon barrels, different stock configurations, fancy engraving, tang sights – all special order features you could add to any of the base variations above.
1894 Takedown Trapper
“Two Winchester Model 94 Lever Action Carbines.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1045/4202/two-winchester-model-94-lever-action-carbines. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
The “Trapper” carbine deserves special mention because people always ask about it. Winchester never cataloged a model called the “Trapper.” What they did do was accept special orders for short-barreled carbines, sometimes called “Baby Carbines” or “Special Short Carbines,” with barrels as short as 14-16 inches. Winchester discontinued these special short orders in 1933, probably due to the National Firearms Act concerns brewing at the time. Today, “Trapper” is a generic term for any short-barreled 94, including the factory 16-inch versions Winchester made in later years. But if someone tries to sell you a “genuine factory Trapper” from the 1920s, know that it was a custom order, not a cataloged variation.
The Spin-Off Models
Winchester also produced three distinct models that were built on the Model 1894 action but carried different model numbers:
Winchester Model 55 (1924-1932): When rifle sales slumped in the 1920s, Winchester tried to revive them with the Model 55. It had a 24-inch barrel, a half-magazine holding three rounds, and came in both takedown and solid-frame versions. It was only offered in .30-30, .25-35, and .32 Winchester Special. Winchester made about 20,000-21,000 of them before giving up in 1932. They just couldn’t compete with the standard Model 94 carbine in sales, so Winchester killed the model.
Winchester Model 55
“Winchester Model 55 Lever Action Rifle.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/49/27/winchester-model-55-lever-action-rifle. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Winchester Model 64 (1933-1957): This was Winchester’s attempt at an upscale sporting rifle. The Model 64 came standard with a pistol-grip stock and a semi-beavertail forearm, giving it a more “refined” look than the straight-grip Model 94. It was offered in 20, 24, and 26-inch barrels, with .30-30 being the most common chambering. The rare .219 Zipper chambering (1938-1941) is highly collectible. Winchester consulted with Colonel Townsend Whelen on the design, and the result was a genuinely nice rifle. About 66,000-67,000 were made. Winchester briefly reintroduced it in 1972-73, all in .30-30.
Winchester Model 64
“Excellent Winchester Model 64 Lever Action Rifle with Original Box.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1049/759/winchester-model-64-lever-action-rifle-with-box. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Ted Williams Model 100 (1964-1980): This was simply a Model 94 carbine with Sears branding, sold as part of Sears’ deal with retired baseball legend Ted Williams. Same gun, different rollmark. Sears sold a lot of them, and they’re perfectly good shooters, but they don’t command the same collector interest as Winchester-branded guns.
Ted Williams Model 100
“Ted Williams/Sears Model 100 Lever Action Carbine.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/5013/1289/ted-williamssears-model-100-lever-action-carbine. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Final Thoughts on Variations
Look, the Winchester Model 1894/94 has one of the most complicated production histories of any firearm in existence. Over 130 years and 7+ million guns, Winchester changed things constantly. Sometimes for good reasons, sometimes for cost-cutting, sometimes just because the market demanded it. What I’ve laid out here are the core variations you’ll actually encounter and need to understand if you’re buying, selling, or collecting these rifles.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, we are closing out the second part of our Winchester Model 1894 series. Part III will tackle the ease or the strain that is dating these rifles and sorting out serial numbers, production years, and all the identifying marks that’ll help you figure out exactly what you’ve got. Till then, keep an eye out for more information on the most successful lever-action rifle in American history. I hope to get the chance to go over some more juicy details soon!
In closing, I hope our Curious Relics segment informed as well as entertained. This all was written in hopes of continued firearm appreciation and preservation. We did not just realize how guns were supposed to look and function. It was a long and tedious process that has shaped the world we live in. So, I put it to you! Is there a firearm out there that you feel does not get much notoriety? What should our next Curious Relics topic cover? As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
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