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This time I bought a newer one - 1940. 
I was at a local gun show Saturday, and this one just popped out amidst a table full of pigs. I don't usually look at 94 carbines as I prefer the 92's, but this one captured my interest because it was in very nice condition..... and chambered in 25-35. 1940 date, good screws, and nice original wood with patina over a tiger stripe walnut stock. I looked it over but the butt pad and barrel roll mark didn't look right to me. Also - the bore was too dirty to discern whether it had issues or not. Because of the money involved, I decided to pass and mull it over.
I went home to think about and do some research. Maddis' book on Winchesters helped me out, as did perusing the Winchester Collector's forum. The butt plate and roll mark checked out, as did the proof marks, tang stamp, and other details peculiar to a 1940 25-35 carbine. There was even a "W" stamped on the underside of the receiver, as mentioned in the collectors forum.
So -I went back on Sunday with a rod and some patches to see what the bore looked like. With the seller's permission I ran a dry patch down the bore and shined a light on down....... minty! Hard to find a bore like that in a 25-35, so I commenced to negotiate. We came to an accord, and I brought the carbine home.
I was at a local gun show Saturday, and this one just popped out amidst a table full of pigs. I don't usually look at 94 carbines as I prefer the 92's, but this one captured my interest because it was in very nice condition..... and chambered in 25-35. 1940 date, good screws, and nice original wood with patina over a tiger stripe walnut stock. I looked it over but the butt pad and barrel roll mark didn't look right to me. Also - the bore was too dirty to discern whether it had issues or not. Because of the money involved, I decided to pass and mull it over.
I went home to think about and do some research. Maddis' book on Winchesters helped me out, as did perusing the Winchester Collector's forum. The butt plate and roll mark checked out, as did the proof marks, tang stamp, and other details peculiar to a 1940 25-35 carbine. There was even a "W" stamped on the underside of the receiver, as mentioned in the collectors forum.
So -I went back on Sunday with a rod and some patches to see what the bore looked like. With the seller's permission I ran a dry patch down the bore and shined a light on down....... minty! Hard to find a bore like that in a 25-35, so I commenced to negotiate. We came to an accord, and I brought the carbine home.
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