Manufacture date for 94AE .45 Colt Trapper?

[JerryB]

One sight won't give a date when I put in the number, and one gives me 1982. I thought that was early by three years or so. The serial number is 55155**. Any help appreciated, thanks.

[Griff]

One sight won't give a date when I put in the number, and one gives me 1982. I thought that was early by three years or so. The serial number is 55155**. Any help appreciated, thanks.

At 5-½ million, your gun was made AFTER 1982. .45 Colt was introduced as a factory chambered cartridge in 1985... So, I'd assume after that date. Do you have the cross-bolt safety... or just the rebounding hammer? The cross-bolt safety was added in 1992. The tang safety in 2004. That'll help you narrow it down.

[JerryB]

Thanks Griff, no crossbolt, just the rebounding hammer and a hole through the hammer at the top, what was that for?

[Griff]

Thanks Griff, no crossbolt, just the rebounding hammer and a hole through the hammer at the top, what was that for?

Hammer spur for ease of cocking or decocking under a scope.

[Old Savage]

5.5 mil was probably made in 89.

[Griff]

The 94AE was produced under license from Olin Corp by USRA after 1983. They have not released data around what rifles were built in what years, to my knowledge. In 1994 (IIRC) they were partially bought out by FN, who then took them over in the early 2000s. Again, little to no data on serial number ranges produced by year. I seem to recall a list somewhere, but can't locate it now. So, it must have been my imagination... The rebounding hammer was introduced in 1983 with the 94AE... and if I remember the numbers correctly, the ½-cock non-rebounding hammer ended at serial number 5128000, or thereabouts according to parts available at one time from Numrich. The trigger group parts on the AEs were unchanged up to about serial number 6 million when the tang safety was introduced.

[Old Savage]

Here is a clue, 5569xxx already existed in early 1990, that is when I bought it.

It appears they were doing 60-70,000 yr from 83 thru 89.

[AJMD429]

Could yours have been a receiver made in 1982 but rebarreled later...?

[J Miller]

Jerry,

I got this from former member OD some years back:

Win 94AE Time Line: by OD

OD
Advanced Levergunner

Vatican City
2547 Posts Posted - 02/28/2005 : 22:50:28

Rebounding hammer introduced 1981
Angle Eject introduced 1983
.45 Colt Trapper model introduced 1985
Hammers drilled and tapped for offset extension introduced 1986
Bull barrels introduced for Trappers 1991
Link pin retaining screw returns in 1991
Cross bolt safety introduced 1992
Tang safety introduced 2004 (Modoc ED says 2003)
Mdl 94, 70 and 1300 discontinued March 2006

Dan
'94 Winchester Fan
"Slow down, you'll get a more harmonious outcome...."

Joe

[JerryB]

Thanks for all the help with this Trapper. My grandson is really happy with it, all the finish is real good and it runs several of my reloads real smooth.
Joe thanks for the chart from OD.

[Griff]

Tang safety introduced in the 2003 catalog.