Win 1894 Specialist Gunsmith?

[ntsqd]

I am looking for a gunsmith who specializes in Winchester 1894's to help with a rifle build. This will be a Rifle in .30-30AI so I'm kind of doubting a Cowboy Action smith is going to have much interest. So far my searching of the net in general and lever action forums has not turned up anyone.

 

[Dean2]

Making it into a 30-30 AI is just a matter of running a finishing reamer into the chamber. Any good smith should easily be able to do that. The rest of the work on an 1894 will be very familiar to anyone that specialises in cowboy action guns.

 

[J E Custom]

I don't know any smith that specializes in a certain type of rifle, so I would recommend a smith that Is well rounded in all firearms.

My recommendation would be a member Gunsmith called Shortgrass.

If anyone can do what you wan't, he can.

PM him.

J E CUSTOM

 

[ntsqd]

The AI conversion is just a small part of what I want the rifle to be. Of the CAS 'smith sites that I've looked at they mostly emphasize slicking the action to make it cycle easier and faster. While that's not a bad idea, it's only a small part of what I want done.

Desired feature set:
24"-26" full or part octagon barrel in .30-30AI w/ recessed 11° crown
Button mag, or possibly a full length - I flip-flop on that one.
Tang peep and 17A front sights although I'd settle for a steel receiver peep if there's a good reason for it instead of the tang mount
Pistol grip
Crescent butt-plate
Field grade wood (laminated?) with XTR style checkering
Metal finished in Midnight Blue Cerakote

I've looked buying a commemorative to get most of desired features in the starting point, but everyone seems to think that they're worth significantly more than their std. brothers, which is silly. Slightly more I could see.

Thank you JE, I will contact him.

 

[Dean2]

The AI conversion is just a small part of what I want the rifle to be. Of the CAS 'smith sites that I've looked at they mostly emphasize slicking the action to make it cycle easier and faster. While that's not a bad idea, it's only a small part of what I want done.

Desired feature set:
24"-26" full or part octagon barrel in .30-30AI w/ recessed 11° crown
Button mag, or possibly a full length - I flip-flop on that one.
Tang peep and 17A front sights although I'd settle for a steel receiver peep if there's a good reason for it instead of the tang mount
Pistol grip
Crescent butt-plate
Field grade wood (laminated?) with XTR style checkering
Metal finished in Midnight Blue Cerakote

I've looked buying a commemorative to get most of desired features in the starting point, but everyone seems to think that they're worth significantly more than their std. brothers, which is silly. Slightly more I could see.

Thank you JE, I will contact him.

That is not a very complicated or difficult list of things t do. Personally, I would go find a pre 64 94 in 3030 with a 24" Octagonal barrel and go from there. There are also a lot of those in 32, which you could make in to 32 AI, or rebarrel but at least you have good bones to start with. If you want a pistol grip it would be a whole bunch easier to start out with a model 64. Exact same action as the 94.

 

[ntsqd]

No, it's really not all that complicated. The pistol grip part is likely the toughest thing to convert to. Better to start with one, but they're not all that common. Except in the commemoratives. I'll research the Model 64's
With the premium placed on Pre 64's I don't see the point of starting there since I'm after a shooter. About the only thing that I won't start with is a cross-bolt safety model. Even an AE isn't the end of the world. I do have a pre that I could use, but there is some emotion tied to it. Not sure that I can strip it and start over.
No interest in a .32 except as an action donor.

 

[shortgrass]

As I replied in my PM to you, I have a .30-30AI reamer. But after reading through your list of 'wants', I have no interest in this project.

 

[jeb42]

You might check with Turnbull Restorations https://www.turnbullrestoration.com/

 

[David Emerson]

I am no expert on win 94,s but I have to question making it an AI. Sharp shoulder and little taper is a poor recipe for feeding in a lever. The lifter has the cartridge at quite an angle when the bolt hits it to push it in the chamber.

 

[shortgrass]

I am no expert on win 94,s but I have to question making it an AI. Sharp shoulder and little taper is a poor recipe for feeding in a lever. The lifter has the cartridge at quite an angle when the bolt hits it to push it in the chamber.

The AI version has feed very well in the Marlin 336s that I have converted. Not an issue with the 336...... I can't help but wonder about the '94, though.

 

[ntsqd]

Haven't compared them directly, but as I recall the 7-30 Waters has a shoulder similar to the AI. I don't recall ever hearing that those rifles had feeding issues.

 

[ntsqd]

To provide some closure, I took Dean2's advice and went looking for an M64. I was ignorant of that model's very existence. Never did find any with an octagon barrel, but plenty of round barreled rifles. Stumbled onto one that has been stamped "Impvd" behind the caliber stamping on the barrel and had a Williams rear sight on it. Once out of KA mandated impound I'll either take a chamber casting or fire-form a case to see what it really is. I know the fire-formed case will be less conclusive, but it may be enough. If it is not or I desire a better idea of the chamber I'll do the casting. I've been around low temp alloys in a whole different application, but have yet to use them for a chamber casting. Need to educate myself on that process.

 

[Dean2]

To provide some closure, I took Dean2's advice and went looking for an M64. I was ignorant of that model's very existence. Never did find any with an octagon barrel, but plenty of round barreled rifles. Stumbled onto one that has been stamped "Impvd" behind the caliber stamping on the barrel and had a Williams rear sight on it. Once out of KA mandated impound I'll either take a chamber casting or fire-form a case to see what it really is. I know the fire-formed case will be less conclusive, but it may be enough. If it is not or I desire a better idea of the chamber I'll do the casting. I've been around low temp alloys in a whole different application, but have yet to use them for a chamber casting. Need to educate myself on that process.

Good to hear the update and gald you found what you were looking for. Firing a factory 30-30 will tell you very quickly if it is an Ackley improved, which based on the barrel stamp I would bet it is. That was a fairly popular thing to do back in the day. As you likely know Ackley is designed to be able to safely shoot factory 30-30 or any other factory load in other cartridges so you can fire form to the new shape. Brownelles site has excellent instructions on how to do a chamber cast properly.