I am babysitting my father-in-laws Model 64 in 30wcf. Serial # 1421xx. What manual covers this model? the tang says model 1894, the barrel says model 64. What year of manufacture? and where can I find instructions on takedown? this gun needs a serious cleaning!

Any help/links is appreciated

Brendan:

Keewatin, boy I haven't heard the name of that town in a long time. My ex wife was from Chisholm MN. How's every t'ing up on DA Range?

Check out the Winchester web site. They have a number to call the last time I was on it, ( which has been a while). With the serial number, they will tell you the year of manufacture. Sounds like to me, it was made on the border of a model change year, or else someone may have replaced the barrel on a Model 94 with one off of a Model 64 or Vice Versa.

Good luck this fall hunting up North there. Did a lot of hunting in the early 80's about 15 miles north of Chisholm off of hwy 73. Got my largest buck up there, about 325 pounds or so on the hoof. it field cleaned at about 265 pounds, but that was after the idiot who shot him used a 444 Marlin, and cut a tree in half with the slug and then it hit the deer. There went a fast 10 pounds of hamburger off the shoulder on it.

Brendan. I have good news and I have bad news. According to the serial #, your rifle was made in 1898. That's the good news. The bad news is I think your rifle is an 1894 Winchester that has been rebarreled with a Model 64 barrel. Yhe Model 64 was made from 1933 to 1953 (I think that was the last year of manufacture) in 30WCF, .32 Win. Spl., 25-35 and a few in .219 Zipper.
I have two of these rifles, one a deluxe version made in 1938 and a standard version made in 1951. Looking at the tang of the 1938 rifle, it says:

WINCHESTER
----Trade Mark----
-Made in the U.S.A-
I don't think any rifles were made between late 1942 through 1948 due to WW-2.
A true M64 will have a pistol grip stock with curved lever and a semi-beavertail forend. Deluxe version has detachable sling swivels and checkering on the grip and foreend, while the standard version does not. There are two barrel lengths, 20" on the scarcer carbine version and I believe the rifle has a 24" or 26" barrel. The stock and forarm were designed by Col. Townsend Whelen and the design was also used on the M71 Winchester in .348 as well. JMHO, but they are probably the best feeling rifles big "W" ever put out.
Any current owners manual will most likely not be appropriate due to lawyer induced changes.
Breakdown of the earlier 94's isn't too hard, but getting the damn things back together can be fun. I did it once, never again.
Anyway, I hope this was of some help, and not a disappiontment for you.
Paul B.

Seafire; everythings pretty much the same up here. Taconite mining is still the main industry, though the plants employ less people but produce more tonnage. I'm very hopeful this deer season, I got a game camera this year and have a nice 8 point to look for, and this year (1st time) you can buy a bonus anterless deer tag across the counter.(lots of deer)

Paul; I thought the barrel looked newer. It has the pistol grip and curved lever as well, along with the 24" barrel. The barrel looks real good. Perhaps I'll take it out for my doe tag. I'll call my wife's grandfather and see what he remembers about this rifle and when he got it. I don't think I'll try to take it down, perhaps just spray it out and relube it.

Thanks for your input guys, any more is welcome.

Brendan

Brendan. I'd sure like to see that rifle. Your description interests me. The pistol grip and curved lever could be from a rifle that had been special ordered, the barrel corroded out by either black powder or corrosive priming and the rifle sent back to Winchester for a new barrel.
On a proper M64, the pistol grip is fairly pronounces, more like you'd find on most madern rifles, while on a special order rifle in the time frame yours was made, it would be more of a half pistol grip. (That's the best way I can describe it.)
If you can find a copy of WINCHESTER, AN AMERICAN LEGEND by R.L. Wilson, you should be able to determine what you have. If you're lucky, your local library will have a copy. If not, any decent book store might have one. A few minutes browsing should get you what you need.Page 93 shows a line drawing of a fancy sporting rifle, page 96 a color photo, and on pge 247, both versions of the M64. (Deluxe and standard.)Heck, you might like that book so much, you'll buy it, although it is pricey.
Paul B.