I apologize in advance for the length, I normally hang out in the handgun forums and am not that familiar to lever actions:

Visiting a pawn shop, I saw a 94AE in OK condition for $230, so I bought it. I'm having a difficult time finding parts listings/ user manual for this particular one. It is approximately 1983 manufacture,I'm guessing; mid-5 million s/n. It has no cross bolt, no tang safety. Will any 94 AE manual work?

I've completely disassembled the rifle and it appears all that's really needed are a pair of cartridge guide screws, from where a previous owner used a household screw driver- I guess I can get those from Winchester.

Now the finish- there is quite a bit of surface rust where the bluing had been scratched/ nicked (Louisiana is tough on finishes)and so I'm thinking about refinishing it. Would you suggest re-blueing or using a teflon/ duracote finish. In otherwords, should I keep it original? I assume it's not going to be collectable, really- there were so many produced. Also, I've read somewhere that hot blueing these late S/N guns doesn't take well- I guess cold blue is fine?

Thanks for the in-put.
Ron

well, the good news is that winchester switched back to
forged steel for their receivers on the AE models, so it will take blueing.

If you want something more durable that's your call.

AllanD

quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:
well, the good news is that winchester switched back to
forged steel for their receivers on the AE models, so it will take blueing.

AllanD

That's interesting, but didn't Win always have trouble with their receiver finish. I think I read somewhere maybe by George Madis, that old mint condition carefully stored rifles were shedding their finish just over time.

Not to mention they are so handy to carry with a hand around the receiver. Carbines anyway.

Any steel rifle will rust, but thepost-64, but pre angle eject Winchester 94's had cast receivers that had to be plated to take blueing.... they lose their "blue" finish and develop
a case of "red freckles" when they corrode.

the pre64's are forged steel as are all 94-BigBore and all AE models, any of these will take "conventional" as well as exotic finishes....

allanD