Question on Buffalo Bill 94 Winchester Rifle

[Pop Watts]

Any of you fine people out there shoot a Buffalo Bill 1894 Winchester?

Calibre is 30-30.

I believe these were an early release commemerative and not sure what the quality was like.

A local dealer rang me today as he has an unfired rifle for sale and wanted to know if I was interested.

26 inch Octagon barrel I believe.

I have been trying to get an original 1894 rifle in 30WCF for years now without success. This may fill the gap.

If anyone has experience with these rifles could you let me know.

Thanks, Pop.

[Malamute]

They are fine quality, tho they were made in the time period when stamped carriers were used. Many never had trouble with the stamped carriers, but they are simple to replace with cast/forged/machined carriers. Most that shoot them report excellent accuracy. Some of the commemoratives can be bought new, unfired for similar or less money than comparable standard grade guns of similar vintage are priced. I think many of the commemoratives are excellent guns and values, and about the only way to aquire an affordable exmple of a standard type 26" octagon barreled rifle as a shooter.

Is this a standard grade Buffalo Bill? They had nickel trim, plain, straight grain wood, and a medallion in the butt stock. The first 300 Buffalo Bills were high grade, with gold trim, no medallion, very highly figured wood, checkering, and a mahogany presentation case. I see standard grade Buffalo Bill guns selling for $500-$600 USD NIB. The high grade guns book value is $2650 USD. I've only seen one of the high grades for sale, or even in person.

[Rusty]

If you go to www.castbullet.com junior has several articles there about "Bill" his favorite shooter. You can also write him and he will answer. He used to post here on this board.

[Griff]

IMHO, the best bargain you could get in a 26" 30WCF mdl 94. Every one I've seen has been worthy shooter, accurate and fun. A local candy store teased me w/a call about the 20" short rifle version... and sold it before I got there!

[Pop Watts]

Thanks for the replies.

Looked at it today and bought it.

NIB 26" Octagon barrel. It is not the high grade but looked ok to me.

Will take 2 or 3 weeks for paperwork to come through and I can get my grubby hands on it.

Pop.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I have the Canadian Cent. rifle with all the same features and of about the same vintage. It is a very accurate rifle and much fun with cast bullets.
Enjoy!!

[twobit]

Pop,

The Buffalo Bill Commemorative rifle was manufactured in 1968. There were 112923 of them made and they were available in either the octagon sporting rifle version like yours or a 20" barreled carbine. There are typically lots of Winchester commemorative rifles for sale on Gunbroker but not much bid activity. The catch with commemorative rifles is that they do trade at a "premium" price for post 64 rifles as long as they are NIB and unfired. Once you start shooting it the value will drop by 50% as it becomes just another post 64 Model 94.

Michael

[OJ]

Any of you fine people out there shoot a Buffalo Bill 1894 Winchester?

Calibre is 30-30.

I believe these were an early release commemerative and not sure what the quality was like.

A local dealer rang me today as he has an unfired rifle for sale and wanted to know if I was interested.

26 inch Octagon barrel I believe.

I have been trying to get an original 1894 rifle in 30WCF for years now without success. This may fill the gap.

If anyone has experience with these rifles could you let me know.

Thanks, Pop.

As luck would have it - I'm your man - I bought this one new in 1968 - the year of manufacture - these rifles - both octagonal barreled - one with 20" barrel and the other 26" barrel with consecutive serial numbers were offered for sale in pairs.

My friend gun dealer had sold the one with the 20" barrel and apparently, that customer didn't want the one with the 26" barrel - my good luck.



With the Williams FP94/36 aperture rear sight - caused agony for my gunsmith who mounted it for what it did to the "collector value" - my guns are shooters for me to enjoy.



and, the taller front sight needed -



I don't see how you can go wrong there - it's a superb rifle - I shoot mine at least every six weeks or so - have to stop frequently for other shooters to admire it, though (don't you hate that?). Accuracy is superb - much like my Winchester 95 in 30-06.

One other thing I hesitate to mention for the agony it can sometimes cause - my guess is that my gun dealer friend made all his profit on the 20" barreled one and had concern he might have trouble selling the one with the 26" barrel - he charged me $90.00 for it - that's not a misprint - $90.00 - he sold me a Browning BL22 rimfire lever rifle the same day for $100.00.

Get it as soon as you can!!!

[OJ]

Did I waste my time posting the info that was requested ???

[Warhawk]

I bought one for my youngest son Cody, when he was a toddler, he's 23 and in USAF pilot training now. It's a 20 inch barrel carbine, and had been shot and hunted with before it came to the pawn shop where I bought it, I paid a whopping $125 for it.

It's a fantastic shooter, he took his first deer with it and it would take a LOT of money to get him to part with it.