1866-1966 Winchester 94 Centennial

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 10:05 pm

Local gun shop has one of these on the rack. I really wanted to bring it home with me, but felt the price was on the high side, and the owner wasn't there to bargain with. It's in very good condition, just a couple safe dings in the wood, metal is excellent. Brass colored frame, and forend nose, 20" octagon barrel, 30-30. They have $695 on the tag, seemed a little high, but I've not encountered one of these before, even though they supposedly made a little more than 100,000 of them.

This isn't the rifle in the store, but it's the same model, in about the same condition, except no box.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =447007484

Whatcha think?

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 10:49 pm

I think it looks great. Don't know about value.

Is that a brass receiver, or is it plated?

Looks unique. Love the octagonal barrel.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:03 pm

Plated. I'm liking it.

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:03 pm

We sold one of those in the last year and it had the box . Sold it on Gunbroker as well , seems to me we got $600 which I thought was more then it was worth . And the gun was in as good a shape as the one you posted .

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:06 pm

Personally if I were to choose between one of these versus the Marlin 336 Zane Grey I would go with the Zane Grey . I actually had one of the Zane Grey's a couple years back with the box as well . When I bought it , it was said to be NIB . After I got it it wasn't NIB anylonger but when I sold it I think I got about $600 for it as well on Gunbroker and that was 3 or 4 years ago .

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 12:21 pm

TedH wrote:Local gun shop has one of these on the rack. I really wanted to bring it home with me, but felt the price was on the high side, and the owner wasn't there to bargain with. It's in very good condition, just a couple safe dings in the wood, metal is excellent. Brass colored frame, and forend nose, 20" octagon barrel, 30-30. They have $695 on the tag, seemed a little high, but I've not encountered one of these before, even though they supposedly made a little more than 100,000 of them.

This isn't the rifle in the store, but it's the same model, in about the same condition, except no box.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =447007484

Whatcha think?

Ted - FWIW, I look at commemorative guns a bit differently than most folks.

I tell myself: How else am I able to obtain a high-grade Winchester levergun, with an octagon bbl, upgraded wood & maybe engraving, without spending 3x or 4x more than $600-$800, for a gennie ?

My suggestion is ( as if anyone here wouldn be surprised by ) : If you like it, buy it & pleasure/enjoy yourself (carpe diem) - life is too short to dance with an ugly partner.

.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 12:30 pm

Ted,
Winchester commemoratives give a very good value for the dollar. I have literally run across hundreds of silhouette shooters over the years who use these guns and they all have one thing in common....they shoot. I killed my first deer with a Canadian Cent. back in '68. My friend Al Faust won the Nationals with a Lone Star 30-30 in '13.

Don't let a paltry $100 keep you from getting what you want. The way I see it, thousands of dollars are taken out of my check every year for things I get nothing out of.-----6

Warhawk · Post by **Warhawk** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:37 pm

A guy over on AR15.COM has a Buffalo Bill commemorative, NIB, for $650. Ad doesn't say if it's a rifle (26") or a carbine (20"). I have a BB rifle and my youngest has a carbine, they are both shooters. They are also one of my favorites of the commemoratives, not too gaudy but they do have a heavy octagon barrel.

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 9:58 pm

Sixgun wrote:Ted,

Don't let a paltry $100 keep you from getting what you want. The way I see it, thousands of dollars are taken out of my check every year for things I get nothing out of.-----6

BINGO ! I have been passively on the lookout for a 26" centennial model for a little bit myself --- cool stuff

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 8:58 am

Sixgun wrote:
Don't let a paltry $100 keep you from getting what you want. The way I see it, thousands of dollars are taken out of my check every year for things I get nothing out of.-----6

I agree. Now I just need to rationalize the "need" to myself.

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:34 am

Streetstar wrote:
Sixgun wrote:Ted,

Don't let a paltry $100 keep you from getting what you want. The way I see it, thousands of dollars are taken out of my check every year for things I get nothing out of.-----6

BINGO ! I have been passively on the lookout for a 26" centennial model for a little bit myself --- cool stuff

Me too.
I just bought this one.

It's the Canadian Centennial. I bid on it and got it for $503. I think it went cheap because they had it listed as a 20". There is a 20" octagon carbine too. But, it has a saddlering. This one is the 26" rifle.

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:35 am

Please excuse the double tap

Malamute · Post by **Malamute** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:57 am

Sixgun wrote:Ted,
Winchester commemoratives give a very good value for the dollar. I have literally run across hundreds of silhouette shooters over the years who use these guns and they all have one thing in common....they shoot. I killed my first deer with a Canadian Cent. back in '68. My friend Al Faust won the Nationals with a Lone Star 30-30 in '13.

Don't let a paltry $100 keep you from getting what you want. The way I see it, thousands of dollars are taken out of my check every year for things I get nothing out of.-----6

This^ ^ ^

Many seem to feel the commemoratives are worth comparable value as common carbines in excellent condition, and if used, worth less. There simply isn't any other affordable and practical way to get special features like nicer wood, octagon barrels, checkering, a little shiny bling sometimes, other than with a commemorative. I like the Canadian Centennials in particular, as they are pretty plain, and look more like a regular older rifle. I've come to not mind a little shiny stuff here and there also.

Having owned a number of post war pre-64 carbines and post 64 commemoratives, I'd be more interested in many of the commemoratives than a plain old ordinary carbine. I've usually upgraded the carrier, and sometimes changed out a few of the shiny parts, added better sights etc on the commemoratives.

I know, that sounds like sacrilege to many, but post war pre-64's aren't all that special or spectacular. Better than post 64's, sure, but hardly any sort of holy grail gun.

Pets on track also.

Nice rifle Steve! Are you going to do much to it? I regret selling the last Canadian Centennial rifle I had.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 1:14 pm

Malamute wrote:
Sixgun wrote:Ted,
Winchester commemoratives give a very good value for the dollar...Don't let a paltry $100 keep you from getting what you want. The way I see it, thousands of dollars are taken out of my check every year for things I get nothing out of.-----6
This^ ^ ^
Many seem to feel the commemoratives are worth comparable value as common carbines in excellent condition, and if used, worth less. There simply isn't any other affordable and practical way to get special features like nicer wood, octagon barrels, checkering, a little shiny bling sometimes, other than with a commemorative. I like the Canadian Centennials in particular, as they are pretty plain, and look more like a regular older rifle. I've come to not mind a little shiny stuff here and there also.

Having owned a number of post war pre-64 carbines and post 64 commemoratives, I'd be more interested in many of the commemoratives than a plain old ordinary carbine. I've usually upgraded the carrier, and sometimes changed out a few of the shiny parts, added better sights etc on the commemoratives.

I know, that sounds like sacrilege to many, but post war pre-64's aren't all that special or spectacular. Better than post 64's, sure, but hardly any sort of holy grail gun.

Pets on track also.

Nice rifle Steve! Are you going to do much to it? I regret selling the last Canadian Centennial rifle I had.

+1. Plus, the Commemoratives I've fondled have slightly less taper to the barrel than my older pre-64 octagon rifles, (3 from the 1900-1928 era). This is what, IMO, makes them a better shooter than the std. weight octagon.

Add a tang peep (or even a receiver peep), a Lyman 17A and you have a VERY competitive package for levergun silhouette or other competitions.

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 1:24 pm

Griff wrote:
Malamute wrote:
Sixgun wrote:Ted,
Winchester commemoratives give a very good value for the dollar...Don't let a paltry $100 keep you from getting what you want. The way I see it, thousands of dollars are taken out of my check every year for things I get nothing out of.-----6
This^ ^ ^
Many seem to feel the commemoratives are worth comparable value as common carbines in excellent condition, and if used, worth less. There simply isn't any other affordable and practical way to get special features like nicer wood, octagon barrels, checkering, a little shiny bling sometimes, other than with a commemorative. I like the Canadian Centennials in particular, as they are pretty plain, and look more like a regular older rifle. I've come to not mind a little shiny stuff here and there also.

Having owned a number of post war pre-64 carbines and post 64 commemoratives, I'd be more interested in many of the commemoratives than a plain old ordinary carbine. I've usually upgraded the carrier, and sometimes changed out a few of the shiny parts, added better sights etc on the commemoratives.

I know, that sounds like sacrilege to many, but post war pre-64's aren't all that special or spectacular. Better than post 64's, sure, but hardly any sort of holy grail gun.

Pets on track also.

Nice rifle Steve! Are you going to do much to it? I regret selling the last Canadian Centennial rifle I had.
+1. Plus, the Commemoratives I've fondled have slightly less taper to the barrel than my older pre-64 octagon rifles, (3 from the 1900-1928 era). This is what, IMO, makes them a better shooter than the std. weight octagon.

Add a tang peep (or even a receiver peep), a Lyman 17A and you have a VERY competitive package for levergun silhouette or other competitions.

I had thought about adding a tang sight but this gun is not D&T-ed for the second hole. It is D&T-ed for a receiver sight and I have some Williams FP's so I'll probably add one. Might do a Lyman 17 up front, too.

Malamute · Post by **Malamute** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 7:25 pm

I have one I don't want to D&T also. I've heard some guys just using the tang stock screw.

I have a project gun (years long), on a post 64 standard gun. I had it D&T'ed for a tang sight. It will have a Buffalo Bill octagon barrel cut to 22", a Lyman 17 up front, and a barrel ladder sight. Have some high grade checkered wood also. Should be a fun plinker for the 300 and 600 yard steel plates.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 7:37 pm

I also have a Canadian Cent. rifle. A fine cast bullet shooter it is.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 7:53 pm

If you're going to shoot it, I see no reason not to d&t it.

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 8:00 pm

Griff wrote:
Add a tang peep (or even a receiver peep), a Lyman 17A and you have a VERY competitive package for levergun silhouette or other competitions.

exactly what i was thinking !

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:23 pm

Griff wrote:If you're going to shoot it, I see no reason not to d&t it.

I do like the tang sights more than the receiver sights, and it is a shooter for sure. So, I probably will. I was just stewing over this and whether I wanted to mess it up drilling a hole in the lettering;

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 12:47 am

I broke down and called the owner of the shop today and had him stick it in the back and hold it for me till i can get back in there Monday.

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 1:31 am

Nate Kiowa Jones wrote:
Griff wrote:If you're going to shoot it, I see no reason not to d&t it.
I do like the tang sights more than the receiver sights, and it is a shooter for sure. So, I probably will. I was just stewing over this and whether I wanted to mess it up drilling a hole in the lettering;

Ouch -- i didnt know they had that back there on the tang back -- that would be a dilemna

winchester1886 · Post by **winchester1886** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 6:03 am

I had one of the rifles with the 26 inch barrel, just loved it beautiful rifle shot great to, took quite a few of those big grass hopper things we have down here, I lost it because of some dumb wheeling and dealing of a dumb nephew of mine, would buy it back today if I could find where it is, I wouldn't wait till tomorrow.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 8:03 am

Sixgun wrote:Don't let a paltry $100 keep you from getting what you want. The way I see it, thousands of dollars are taken out of my check every year for things I get nothing out of.-----6

+1

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 5:44 pm

TedH wrote:I broke down and called the owner of the shop today and had him stick it in the back and hold it for me till i can get back in there Monday.

Atta boy! I was gonna stop by and get your "man card" and shred it! You're safe now....unless you crawfish

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 7:30 am

vancelw wrote: ....unless you crawfish

I don't speak Texican, so I had to think about that for a second.

I already made several hints to the wife over the weekend, so I should be in good shape, at least on the home front. And I even brought some trade fodder, so I should be able to walk out of there with a new rifle, some which way or another.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 8:56 am

TedH wrote:
vancelw wrote: ....unless you crawfish
I don't speak Texican, so I had to think about that for a second.

Whaaaaa?!?! Doan chall have mudbugs in Missouri?

I haven't bought a new levergun in a couple of weeks.....gettin' twitchy......

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 9:14 am

vancelw wrote:
TedH wrote:
vancelw wrote: ....unless you crawfish
I don't speak Texican, so I had to think about that for a second.
Whaaaaa?!?! Doan chall have mudbugs in Missouri?
I haven't bought a new levergun in a couple of weeks.....gettin' twitchy......

At least spell it right!!! It's "doncha'll" Still 3 syllables.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 10:19 pm

vancelw wrote:
TedH wrote:
vancelw wrote: ....unless you crawfish
I don't speak Texican, so I had to think about that for a second.
Whaaaaa?!?! Doan chall have mudbugs in Missouri?

Oh yeah, we got 'em here, I like them. I just never used them as a verb.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 10:27 pm

TedH wrote:
vancelw wrote:
TedH wrote:
vancelw wrote: ....unless you crawfish
I don't speak Texican, so I had to think about that for a second.
Whaaaaa?!?! Doan chall have mudbugs in Missouri?

Oh yeah, we got 'em here, I like them. I just never used them as a verb.

Stick around a while...we'll learn you a thing or two.

I wanna see that gun if I stop by to see you on my way to MT

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:42 pm

vancelw wrote: Stick around a while...we'll learn you a thing or two.

I wanna see that gun if I stop by to see you on my way to MT

Ran over and picked it up at lunch today. So I'm keeping my man card, and crawfish too!

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 3:03 pm

Good job! Now how you gonna sneak it in the house?

Just so you know...the verb is crawfish, as in to back away or to back out of something (like a deal or a plan)
The noun is crawdad. As in, "Lets go catch a mess of crawdads and have a boil tonight."

Tasty

Hope you made it back to work instead of veering off to the range!

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 3:21 pm

vancelw wrote:Good job! Now how you gonna sneak it in the house?

Well now you got me wondering? When she said "do whatever you want", I took it to mean that I should get the rifle since I work so hard and deserve it, but maybe it was more of a dare?

Better come in the back basement door just to be safe.

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:54 pm

Pics ................. not..................... loading ........... yet

kidding --- would like to see the new stick though when you can

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:29 pm

TedH wrote:
vancelw wrote:Good job! Now how you gonna sneak it in the house?

When she said "do whatever you want", I took it to mean that I should get the rifle since I work so hard and deserve it, but maybe it was more of a dare?

You're a goner.....can I have your guns?

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:45 am

vancelw wrote:
TedH wrote:
vancelw wrote:Good job! Now how you gonna sneak it in the house?

When she said "do whatever you want", I took it to mean that I should get the rifle since I work so hard and deserve it, but maybe it was more of a dare?

You're a goner.....can I have your guns?

Maybe...... the ones she don't know about.......

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:27 am

Streetstar wrote:Pics ................. not..................... loading ........... yet

kidding --- would like to see the new stick though when you can

I'll try and take some tonight. Needs a good wipe down first. Looks like it's been sitting in closet for the last 20 years and full of dust.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 11:58 am

vancelw wrote:
TedH wrote:
vancelw wrote:Good job! Now how you gonna sneak it in the house?
When she said "do whatever you want", I took it to mean that I should get the rifle since I work so hard and deserve it, but maybe it was more of a dare?
You're a goner.....can I have your guns?

Try using an old, ragged gun case, and when you bring it in the house, 'accidentally' drop it a few times, as if you don't care about it, kick it a few times, and 'reluctantly' drag it inside, as if it is just some piece of junk you acquired without really wanting to.

MAYBE she'll be dumb enough to believe you...

I figure if my wife was dumb enough to marry me, she'll fall for this trick a dozen or more times, before she catches on and castrates me in my sleep (unfortunately we have livestock, and she knows the drill

). The good news is that she is a seamstress, and she likes fabric as much as I like firearms, and believe it or not, the cost is not all that different...

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 12:27 pm

I tease, but the fact is that I got a darn good one. In the 3 1/2 years we been together she's got me two 45-70's, a 12 ga, and a 243. She started out a city slicker, but now she has gone deer and turkey hunting with me, and enjoys going to the range and rolling soda cans with the Ruger 22/45 pistol I bought her. She don't make much noise about my hobby, and the only time she does is when she wants me to spend some time with her. Can't fault her for that.

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Sun Oct 26, 2014 3:55 pm

I bought this one to shoot so it got drilled and tap for the tang sight.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Oct 26, 2014 7:27 pm

This is my Canadian Centennial, .30-30 with 16" barrel:

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Mon Oct 27, 2014 1:04 pm

Griff wrote:This is my Canadian Centennial, .30-30 with 16" barrel:

I knew there was a Canadian in a 20" octagon that was called the carbine but I didn't know there was a 16" round. To me the rounds are the real carbines. Short octagons are just short rifles. But, that has always been the debate. What is a carbine vs What is a rifles.

This 26" octagon was advertised as a 20" octagon. But, i could tell from the photos it had to be the 26".

BTW, here's your new shotgun.

Malamute · Post by **Malamute** » Mon Oct 27, 2014 1:48 pm

I suspect Griffs gun is one of his famous parts gun projects.

...and I agree about the carbine vs short rifle, though the short octagon guns are nice handling.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Mon Oct 27, 2014 1:55 pm

Malamute wrote:
...and I agree about the carbine vs short rifle, though the short octagon guns are nice handling.

I always thought I would want the 26" octagon, but as soon as I picked up the 20" version, I really liked the way it felt. Haven't had a chance to shoot mine yet, heck, haven't even had time to get any pics.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:33 pm

Malamute wrote:I suspect Griffs gun is one of his famous parts gun projects.

Yep! And a fun little shooter it turned out to be!

Malamute · Post by **Malamute** » Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:40 pm

You managed to find some REALLY nice wood for it also.

I've picked up a couple of nice stocks for some project guns. At this rate though, somebody may get a great deal on misc parts at my estate sale!

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Wed Oct 29, 2014 12:20 am

In case someone is interested there's another 26" octagon on GunAuction.

“Model 94 Winchester Classic”

Could go cheap. They don't have it described very well.

It has a receiver sight on it. Glad I decided to go with the tang sight.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:43 am

Nate Kiowa Jones wrote:In case someone is interested there's another 26" octagon on GunAuction.

“Model 94 Winchester Classic”

Could go cheap. They don't have it described very well.

It has a receiver sight on it. Glad I decided to go with the tang sight.

That has been my Holy Grail of Win 94s since I first picked up a Winchester catalog back in the late 60s and looked at it. I fondled that catalog to pieces dreaming of having a rifle like that. Never did get one.
Someone has even put the receiver sight on it, a Lyman 66A, that I would have. So I'd have nothing to do to it but shoot it.

Sadly I can't afford to bid on this one either.

Joe

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 1:02 am

TedH wrote:
Malamute wrote:
...and I agree about the carbine vs short rifle, though the short octagon guns are nice handling.
I always thought I would want the 26" octagon, but as soon as I picked up the 20" version, I really liked the way it felt. Haven't had a chance to shoot mine yet, heck, haven't even had time to get any pics.

You and I are close to the same age ----- the dreaded "Everything else" easilly creeps in and keeps us from getting in timely range reports and photo shoots

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 8:36 am

Streetstar wrote:
You and I are close to the same age ----- the dreaded "Everything else" easilly creeps in and keeps us from getting in timely range reports and photo shoots

Don't I know it. We have one kid playing college football, another high school football, and 12 year old daughter doing about 6 different extra curricular activities. Been putting about 800 miles a week on the wife's car traveling to football games. Good thing it gets 35 mpg. Until football is over, my weekends are plum full.