Model 1894 Lever-Action Rifles – The Pistol-Caliber Classic Compendium » Chapter 28 — Tang Markings, Stock Shapes & Grip Options

How Winchester Shaped the 1894’s Shoulders

Introduction

Few parts of the Model 1894 are as revealing—and as misunderstood—as the upper and lower tangs, the buttstock geometry, and the grip architecture.
These features determine:

  • the rifle’s handling
  • its intended use
  • its special-order status
  • and its authenticity

Because furniture is easily swapped or modified, understanding tang markings and grip shapes is crucial for verifying originality.
This chapter documents the correct configurations, era-specific tang markings, and the subtle geometry that distinguishes straight grips, pistol grips, shotgun butts, and crescent butts.

I. WHAT THE TANGS TELL YOU

Every Model 1894 has two tangs:

  1. Upper tang — visible, often marked with the model
  2. Lower tang — hidden inside the stock; determines stock shape

These tangs anchor the buttstock and define whether the rifle is a straight-grip or pistol-grip configuration.

II. UPPER TANG MARKINGS

Upper tangs on 1894s display some of the most consistent markings across the platform, and their variations help date rifles and identify refinishes or replaced parts.

1. Early Tang Mark (1894–early 1900s)

Typically marked:
“WINCHESTER / MODEL 1894”

  • Serifed font
  • Crisp rollstrike
  • Deep stamping
  • Even spacing

Frequently seen on rifles and early carbines.

2. Transitional Tang (early 1900s–1920s)

Marking remains “MODEL 1894”

  • Slight tightening of the font
  • Slight shift in strike depth
  • Often cleaner, reflecting maturing production practices

3. Later Tang (1930s onward)

Marking transitions to:
“MODEL 94”

  • Broader lettering
  • More modern appearance

Red Flags for Collectors:

  • Upper tang marked “MODEL 94” on an early serial.
  • Blurry, light, or over-polished tang marks (refinish indicator).
  • Misaligned tang rollmarks relative to screw holes.

III. LOWER TANG: WHERE STOCK SHAPE IS DETERMINED

Unlike the upper tang, the lower tang determines grip type.

1. Straight-Grip Lower Tang

  • Straight, linear profile
  • Accepts straight-grip stocks only
  • Most common configuration
  • Seen across all barrel lengths and grades

2. Pistol-Grip Lower Tang

  • Curved rear contour
  • Requires a pistol-grip stock to match
  • A true pistol-grip rifle must have:
    • pistol-grip lower tang
    • pistol-grip stock
    • appropriate Winchester grip cap (if specified in catalog era)

Critical Collector Note:

A straight-grip rifle refit with a pistol-grip stock will never fit correctly because the underside of the tang and wood geometry will not match.
Many such rifles are encountered in the modern market.

IV. WOOD GRADES & CHECKERING OPTIONS

Winchester catalogs offer documented examples of stock upgrades:

1. Standard Walnut

  • Plain grain
  • No checkering
  • Strong durability
  • Most rifles & carbines shipped with this wood

2. Fancy & Extra-Fancy Walnut

Catalog-listed upgrades:

  • More figure
  • More curl
  • More flame
  • Appears on deluxe rifles, often paired with pistol grips

3. Checkering

  • Hand-cut
  • Early patterns feature bordered diamonds
  • Clean, period-correct geometry is crucial for authenticity
  • Non-factory checkering tends to be too sharp or too perfect

V. BUTTSTOCK SHAPES: CRESCENT, SHOTGUN & CARBINE

The butt architecture reveals both the rifle’s configuration and intended purpose.

1. Crescent Buttplate (Rifle)

  • Steel
  • Pronounced curve
  • Seen on rifles across early and mid-production
  • Pairs with a straight-grip stock or pistol-grip stock depending on order
  • Strong visual signature of traditional Winchester rifles

What it tells the collector:

This was the default configuration for many early rifles and remains one of the most recognizable 1894 features.

2. Shotgun-Style Buttplate (Rifle)

  • Less curved
  • More vertical
  • Available in:
    • blued steel
    • hard rubber (“composition”)
  • Catalog-listed as an option
  • Very common on special-order rifles, especially deluxe models

Why it matters:

Shotgun butts change the entire shoulder profile and handling feel.
They are also strongly associated with higher-grade rifles.

3. Carbine Buttplate

  • Thicker at the heel
  • Flat or slightly convex
  • Utilitarian in design
  • Paired only with carbine stocks
  • Matches the rugged, working-gun philosophy

Collector insight:

If a rifle-length barrel is paired with a carbine buttplate, the gun has been restocked or reconfigured.

VI. GRIP SHAPES: STRAIGHT vs. PISTOL-GRIP

1. Straight Grip

  • Default on most rifles and carbines
  • Cleaner, linear wrist
  • Pairs with either crescent or shotgun buttplate
  • Very fast-handling

2. Pistol Grip

  • Curved wrist
  • Often paired with deluxe wood
  • Seen frequently on special-order rifles
  • Requires correct pistol-grip lower tang
  • May include a Winchester grip cap depending on era

Key authenticity checks:

  • Wood must match tang shape
  • Grip cap era must be appropriate
  • Fit should be tight and flush
  • Checkering patterns must align with Winchester catalog examples

VII. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STOCK SHAPE & ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION

To determine original configuration, collectors look for:

  1. Tang-to-wood fit
  2. Correct screws & inletting
  3. Era-consistent buttplate style
  4. No sanding, reshaping, or modern rounding
  5. Finish consistency between metal and wood
  6. Compatible stock length-of-pull for the era

These physical cues are often more reliable than removed or damaged letters.

VIII. COMMON PITFALLS & MISIDENTIFICATIONS

1. Straight grip converted to pistol grip

Wood often overhangs the lower tang or misaligns at the toe.

2. Pistol-grip stock installed on straight-grip tang

Never fits correctly; gap at front of wrist reveals the mismatch.

3. Mixed-era buttplates

Later “Model 94” shotgun butts on early rifles are very common mismatches.

4. Incorrect checkering styles

A major red flag—checkering reveals more than almost any other feature.

5. Modern replacement buttstocks

Often too glossy, wrong contour, improper wrist shape, or lacking era wear.

IX. WHY TANGS & STOCK SHAPES MATTER TO COLLECTORS

Furniture tells the story of:

  • originality
  • intended configuration
  • order level (standard vs deluxe)
  • special-order traits
  • authenticity
  • and even the rifle’s working life

A true special-order pistol-grip shotgun-butt rifle with deluxe wood is significantly more valuable than a straight-grip standard rifle with replaced furniture.

Correct identification preserves historical and collector integrity.

X. SOURCE BASIS FOR THIS CHAPTER

This chapter is grounded in:

Primary Public Sources

  • Winchester factory catalogs
  • Surviving rifles in museum collections
  • Publicly accessible Cody Firearms Museum examples
  • Documented auction catalogs with verified configurations

Secondary Sources

  • Madis
  • Houze
  • Poyer

These sources help establish verified patterns, consistent geometry, and period-correct furniture.