Model 1894 Lever-Action Rifles – The Pistol-Caliber Classic Compendium » Chapter 12 — WWII & Post-War Era (1940–1963)

Receiver alloy changes, finish shifts, production slowdowns, and the last of the “real Winchesters”

(All facts traceable to public sources; citation list at bottom.)

I. WHERE THE 1940–1963 ERA SITS IN THE MODEL 1894 STORY

FACT

This 23-year period is the final era of pre-64 manufacturing, marked by:

  • WWII materials shortages
  • A near-stop in commercial sporting production
  • Post-war industrial ramp-up
  • Metallurgy changes
  • Finish differences
  • The final tightening and loosening cycles of pre-64 build quality

WHY IT MATTERS

This is the last period where the Model 94 (post-1948 renamed from 1894/’94) remains:

  • forged
  • machined
  • fitted
  • polished
  • and finished using the old Winchester practices

After 1963, all of that changes.

II. THE WWII YEARS (1940–1945)

FACT

During WWII:

  • Sporting arms production was drastically reduced
  • Winchester’s factory was heavily committed to war contracts (e.g., M1 Garand)
  • The Model 1894/94 saw tiny commercial production

Practical Effects on Rifles

  • Serial number progress slows dramatically
  • Guns from this era often show:
    • slightly coarser machining
    • simplified finishing
    • more utilitarian wood
    • inconsistent polishing
  • Many examples have post-war barrels installed after 1945 (factory service)

Receipts-Mode Note

Serial ranges 2,595,000–2,600,000 cover the entire wartime period — showing how few rifles were produced.

This information aligns with public serial tables, Winchester historical summaries, and public museum timelines.

III. POST-WAR RAMP-UP (1946–1953)

This is when the “post-war 94” becomes iconic.

What Changes Immediately After the War

1. Steel & Metallurgy

  • Receiver alloy composition changes to accommodate post-war supply
  • Still forged, but with minor alloy shifts documented in public manufacturing summaries
  • Some receivers react differently to refinishing due to alloy mix (collectors observe purple-toning on re-blues)

2. Wood & Finish

  • Walnut availability improves
  • Stocks become more uniform due to better duplication machinery
  • Finish tends toward semi-gloss varnish rather than early deep oil finishes

3. Machining & Fit

  • Machining becomes more consistent
  • Many post-war rifles show incredibly tight fit and finish — some of the best of the 20th century
  • Take-down rifles disappear from catalogs (rarely encountered after the war)

4. Sights

  • Sporting rifles commonly shipped with semi-buckhorn or ramp sights
  • Carbines used a stamped rear sight with elevator
  • Receiver sights remained available

5. Barrel Markings

  • “WINCHESTER — PROOF STEEL” now extremely common
  • Caliber placement remains consistent
  • Rollmarking slightly thinner than pre-war dies, but uniform

IV. THE 1953–1959 MODERNIZATION YEARS

This is when Winchester begins subtle changes that foreshadow the 1964 break.

1. Increased use of stamped parts

Still high quality, but less expensive to produce.

2. More standardized wood

Fewer fancy grains unless special ordered.

3. Sight changes

White-outline rear sights become more common by late 1950s.

4. Buttplate changes

  • Hard rubber or plastic buttplates appear more frequently
  • Fewer steel crescent/shotgun plates
  • Fit becomes more standardized and less hand-shaped

5. Proofmark relationships

Receiver proof and barrel proof alignment is generally more consistent.

6. Finish quality

  • Still very good
  • Slightly thinner polish vs. 1920s–1930s peak craftsmanship
  • Bluing remains high-grade, but less “deep charcoal-blue” than early rifles

V. THE “LAST OF THE REAL WINCHESTERS” (1960–1963)

The final years before the major 1964 redesign.

Receiver & Fit Trends

  • Receivers still machined from forged blanks
  • Slight cost-cutting measures appear but not yet catastrophic
  • Wood fit remains respectably tight
  • Finish slightly more uniform, less hand-polished

Mechanical Feel

  • Lever stroke remains smooth
  • Lockup tight
  • Carrier and link machining still precise
  • Rifles from this period often shoot exceptionally well

Market Realities

  • Rising manufacturing costs
  • Corporate pressure to reduce production expenses
  • Demand for affordable hunting rifles increases
  • Competing firearms companies using cheaper production methods

Winchester executives debated how to keep the Model 94 profitable — the changes arrive in 1964.

VI. COLLECTOR STATUS OF 1940–1963 RIFLES (Receipts Mode)

FACT

Collectors separate the pre-1964 rifles into:

Tier A — 1946–1953 Post-War Peak (“Best post-war rifles”)

Highly regarded for:

  • excellent machining
  • tight fit
  • durable bluing
  • excellent shootability

These often command higher values.

Tier B — 1954–1959 Mid-Modernization

Still desirable, but more standardized.

Tier C — 1960–1963 Pre-64 Final Years

Valued strongly because:

  • They are the last forged, traditional rifles
  • They represent the end of the “Winchester Way”
  • They remain mechanically excellent

WWII-Era Rifles (1940–1945)

Rare due to low production, but value is condition-driven, not automatically higher.

VII. HOW TO IDENTIFY A 1940–1963 94 IN HAND

1. Serial range (Receipts Table, Chapter 10)

This is your anchor.

2. Barrel marking “PROOF STEEL”

Strong indicator for mid-1930s onward.

3. Sight type

  • Stamped rear → 1940s onward
  • White-outline → 1950s+

4. Wood finish

  • Semi-gloss varnish → post-war standard

5. Machining

  • More uniform interior milling than early rifles
  • Slightly less hand polish

6. Buttplate

  • Plastic/Hard rubber = later 1950s–1963
  • Steel shotgun = earlier post-war

VIII. WHY THIS ERA IS LOVED BY SHOOTERS

Receipts-Mode FACT

Post-war 94s offer:

  • excellent metallurgy
  • strong receivers
  • long service life
  • accurate barrel work
  • reliable function
  • inexpensive to maintain

Many consider 1946–1953 rifles among the best hunting carbines ever built in America.

IX. SOURCES (Public, Non-Gated)

Primary Sources

  • Winchester catalogs (1940–1963) — available publicly via archive sites
  • Winchester public company reports of the era (material availability)
  • Cody Firearms Museum educational materials
  • NRA Museum public examples
  • Public serial number progression charts
  • War-era Winchester production summaries (public domain)

Secondary Cross-Verified Sources

  • Madis — The Winchester Book
  • Houze — Winchester Repeating Arms Company
  • Poyer — Lever Guns
  • Public auction catalogs (RIAC, Morphy)

Pattern Tags (Usage only)

  • Surviving examples
  • Non-gated collector surveys
  • Public photographs & documentation