WWII U.S marked Win 1894?

[abcollector]

Came across this over on GunBroker. Just something lever gun to talk about. I never realized Win 1894's were used by the government in WWII. Not saying it's not legit but the markings look very crisp.

Thoughts?

[Combat Diver]

IIRC the US Govt did purchase some and issued them along the Alaskan highway when it was under contruction then. Never a front line rifle.

CD

[Bruce]

Some 94's were purchased by Unlce Sam and issued to enforcement/security personnel during WWI for security purposes in the Pacific Northwest forests. The timber out there was a considered vital to the war effort. Collectors have a name for these rifles, Spruce Guns. I don't know if this is one of them, but they do exist.

Some were also used by US Prisons for guard duty and there are reports that the Canadian government also bought and issued some.

Here is a link to a good article about the Spruce Guns. It also gives some known serial number ranges.

http://www.winchestercollector.org/guns/w-mil.shtml

Edited to correct the right WW.

[Mokwaw]

I recall reading a story, I think in American Rifleman, about U.S.Govt. use of 94's. They were issued to guards at bases and other such places, so the battle rifles could be issued to fighting men. They used them along with shotguns and the Riesing submachine guns instead of the M1's.

[Pete44ru]

AFAIK, there were approx 1800 US-marked 1894 Carbines delivered to various Gov't agencies during the WWI era, and some very rare examples in the WWII era.

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[olyinaz]

The only problem I see is that it's something that could so easily be faked in order to turn a six or seven hundred dollar rifle into a twenty-five hundred dollar rifle. It needs a letter!

Oly

[JerryB]

I read years ago that the gov't issued 94 carbine for security service during WW2.
I have a gunsmith friend that has three 94 recievers marked as Arkansas Department of Prisons, he bought them at a state auction.

[Pete44ru]

As far as "prison guard" guns go, only Federal prison's would have guns with "US" markings, not State prisons.

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[Chuck 100 yd]

I fear it`s a FAKE!!! Without a letter , NO WAY!!

[lozen]

I think it's fake too. Wrong ser# range. Should be US not U.S.

[6pt-sika]

There was an article in the American Rifleman in the last two years about the "Spruce Guns" !

[Ji in Hawaii]

I would not feel undergunned with a model 1894 Winchester in hand versus Huns with 98 Mausers during WWI.
I always wanted a model 94 Musket.

[JBledsoe]

I fear it`s a FAKE!!! Without a letter , NO WAY!!

A letter from whom? A letter from the US Government? Not likely.
At any rate, it is not a spruce gun. Spruce guns were used to guard the spruce forest of the Northwest during WW1, not WW2. It was made during the time of WW2. A large number of the 94's were used during WW2 but not by the US. They were sold to Canada and England as a part of the lend-lease program and are so marked with respective proof marks. I agree with you guys, It's a fake. However, I learned years ago to "never say never", we are always learning something new.

.

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[fleetogreen]

Hello All, I have a Spruce Gun you are talking about but the numbers match the date range. I grew up in Grays Harbor of Washington and was told by my dad that this was for keeping peace between all the Loggers harvesting Spruce for the war effort. The person that you need to contact is Bert Hartman @ win1885@msn.com. He has done extensive research and can tell you if you have one that is not a fake.