The Ted Williams line of sporting goods was started in 1961. If your gun has no serial number it was made before 1968. If it has a serial, it still MAY have been made 61-68, but probably later. The Ted Williams line of sporting goods was started in 1961.
The pictured gun is a post-64, Third Model Winchester 94 receiver, which has the cartridge gude attachment screws on thew outside of the action like First Model receivers. There are NO documented pre-64 type Winchester 94's contracted for Sears Roebuck marked as Ted Williams Model 100's or Sears Model 54's.. I believe you are correct in this case- because I disassembled the entire gun 2 days ago to clean the action and receiver thoroughly, which was filled with grime powder residue- while the lever links are solid pins, and the buttplate is metallic, and the tang is d/t for rear tang site, and it has a seamless cast shell carrier- the trigger group had (2) roll pins in it, and the lock has (1) roll pin in it, holding the striker button. Roll pins to me means post-64 in addition as previously stated in my posts and pictures, the link plate has no attachment screw in it, and the link plate/lever hinge is a screw, not a pin- which also means post-64 so in this case and thread, I stand corrected- it indeed appears to be a POST-64 Ted Williams Model 100, my apologies, it appears I WAS WRONG.
Having said that. I'm skeptical on the statement 'no documented pre-64 Sears guns' because there is another gun owner elsewhere on the net, who had his Sears gun he states is verified as a pre-64, and it was a Sears gun, according to his post you can view the post here here is a quote: September 25, 2008, 12:15 PM #6 UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: AZ Posts: 2,138 gun is clearly a pre-64 (mid 50's to be exact) based solely on the info from winchester and the parts in the gun. I have already contacted the Buffalo Bill Historical Center/Firearms Museum and they backed up the info on the webfrom other sources about the early to mid 50's sale of the model 94 to sears under the higgins name and it's subsequent switch solely to the ted williams name for the model 94. What I am looking for (and can not find from winchester or the other sources) is the serial number ranges for the early to mid 50's guns so I can nail down an exact year for this model 94. Many other models were sold under the higgins name well into the 60's and 70's, but from what I found and was told by winchester and the historical center the model 94 made the switch solely to williams in the late 50's. Also, yes I am aware of the decreased value of a 'store brand' model 94 over a solely winchester branded gun, but this little sucker is being bought for collecting purposed to fit into my colleciton of model 94's. Another shot of the shell plate in the Ted Williams model 100 the post-64 guns had a cheap stamped steel shell plate from the looks of this, it is not a stamped part That lifter is not a pre-64 Model 94 lifter - which were machined from solid - the machining pattern marks can be seen on just about every pre-64's lifter.
While Winchester did switch to a stamped steel lifter in 1964, the lifter was changed in 1970 (due to many years of gunwriter complaints) from the stamped lifter to a solid cast lifter, just like the one in your rifle.. Thank you people! I have been trying to find out why my w94 has a serial number starting with V, seems for one reason or another I might have a receiver that was destined to be a TW but somehow ended up in Australia with a win barrel and butt-plate on it. Some sort of mismatch from the factory some how? Some mismatches do occur, I have a 1949 s/n Winchester 32 flat band carbine, and the barrel is stamped 1948, so there is grey area in gun mfg. Cutoff dates, etc.
In your case, someone may have just changed the barrel and buttplate on the gun? Or, they used a TW receiver to build a Win gun. That lifter is not a pre-64 Model 94 lifter - which were machined from solid - the machining pattern marks can be seen on just about every pre-64's lifter. While Winchester did switch to a stamped steel lifter in 1964, the lifter was changed in 1970 (due to many years of gunwriter complaints) from the stamped lifter to a solid cast lifter, just like the one in your rifle.. Agreed.after buying 8 more Winchester M94 rifles after that TW one in this thread, including (1) pre-WWII, (1) pre-WWI, (5) pre-64,, and (1) pre-70, and taking a good look at all the lifters in them, now I've seen the various designs first hand, you are correct that was a cast lifter. I later sold that TW to my brother, his 14 year old uses it for deer hunting.
In 2010, Winchester re-introduced the 30-30 lever action Model 94 in a Short Rifle version. But can it beat a gently used 50-year-old Sears 100? By Robert Sadowski There was time when every deer hunters’ gun rack held a 30-30 lever-action rifle, and red buffalo plaid was the only choice in a hunting coat. There are those hunters who still believe the 30-30 lever action is the ultimate rifle for a still hunter working in dense cover. The rifle’s light weight, ease of use, simple open sights, and fast follow-up shots make it a sensible choice for shots from 15 to 100 yards.
Over the years, numerous manufacturers have built 30-30 lever actions — Winchester, Marlin, Stevens, Mossberg, Savage, and others. In great-grandpa’s day, hardware stores and department stores with thick catalogs also sold 30-30 lever-action rifles. These department-store rifles were made by these gun manufacturers but were sold under the store’s in-house brand names, often at a lower price than their name-brand cousins.
The two carbines are nearly dead ringers, but one was produced in 1960s and the other in 2010. The Sears Model 100, bottom, relies on common sense and good gun handling skills for safety. We gauged it to be quite a bargain. The Winchester Short Rifle has modern enhancements, and a big price tag. From the 1950s through the 1970s, Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Contracted with Winchester to build a 30-30 lever-action rifle similar to Winchester’s Model 94. Sears called it the Model 100 or Model 54. Ever mindful of marketing opportunities, Sears signed baseball great Ted Williams to endorse its outdoor products. Ted’s signature appeared on everything from outdoor clothing to rifles. In particular, there was a Ted Williams Model 100 rifle, a dead ringer for the Winchester Model 94.
Because we’re always hunting for bargains, we wanted to compare a used Sears Ted William’s Model 100 to a current-production Winchester Model 94 Short Rifle. Both of these rifles are designed around the iconic Model 94 first built by Winchester in 1894. It was the first centerfire rifle to use a then-new smokeless cartridge, the 30 Winchester or, more commonly, the 30-30.
How would a 50-year-old Sears thutty-thutty match up with a brand-spanking new Shorty? Pretty dang well, as we explain below. Winchester Model 94 Short Rifle No.
534174114 30-30 Win., $1230 In 2010 Winchester re-introduced the Model 94 in a Short Rifle version, a plain model that is reminiscent of the millions of Model 94 carbines the company produced a quarter century ago. Of course, the Short Rifle rollmark indicates manufacture in Japan rather than New Haven, CT.
We thought it would be interesting to test this new Model 94 against a gently used Ted Williams Model 100. Both rifles were manufactured by Winchester and have similar features. We soon discovered the big differences between these two rifles were cost and safety features. The safety enhancements to the new Model 94 were obvious.
A thumb safety was nicely placed in the tang of the receiver so the traditional lines of the rifle were not sullied. The hammer was a rebounding type, so there was no half cock. It also used a trigger stop where only a fully closed lever allows the rifle to be fired. The Sears had this feature, too, as do many models of Winchester lever actions. Old-timers who tested the Short Rifle snorted with distaste at a Model 94 having a safety and rebounding hammer. It was blatantly not traditional, but the feature did make the rifle safer to use. The action was smooth, and like all Model 94s, would get slicker with use.
The bluing on the new 94 was superb. The wood seemed adequate. The owner of the rifle had hunted with it in the rain, and the stain on the buttstock looked like it was washing off, but we didn’t ding it for that. The Winchester and Sears both sported flat polymer buttplates that were quick to shoulder and did nothing to absorb recoil, but the 30-30 round is not punishing, and a heavy hunting coat does a lot to absorb recoil. The Short Rifle’s receiver was tapped for scope mounts, and empties were ejected to the right and not up and over like traditional Model 94s. Back in 1980s, Winchester called this “angle eject.” At the range there was not a single failure.
Cartridges were easy to feed into the magazine tube, and the bullet noses were not chewed up when we cycled them through the action. Old Model 94s at times could mangle the bullet nose, and this new Model 94 fixed that issue. At 50 yards using a rest, we were able to achieve very tight three-shot groups using a scope. The hammer was tapped for a hammer extension.
The scope was removed so only open sights were used in the test data. A Marbles front sight with a brass bead and buckhorn style rear sight offered a traditional sight picture.
We expected MOD (minute of deer) accuracy and were pleased at how a range of old-school soft points and newer all-copper Barnes and LEVERevolution Hornady bullets performed. For example, with the Hornady rounds, we were able to get a 0.5-inch group using open sights at 50 yards. 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee Drivers Door Wiring. We also noted the new Winchester achieved higher velocities than the older Model 100. Off the bench, we fired some field simulations. As expected, the Short Rifle was fast to shoulder and acquire a target. Follow-up shots were likewise fast, and it was easy to cycle the rifle on the shoulder.
Our Team Said: The Short Rifle was nicely built. The safety features were smart additions, even though purists were not happy. They did concede safety was important. Big knock: Most testers thought the price was far too much and knocked it down for that. If you want a new Model 94 that’s similar to your granddaddy’s rifle, this is the one to buy. Sears, Roebuck & Co.Ted Williams Model 100, $199-$350 We found the price of Model 100s on Gunbroker.com ranged from less than $200 to close to $350 for a pristine specimen. This gently used carbine had nice wood.
A plastic cap covered the end of the forearm. The state of the metal finish was like most Winchester rifles of that era. The metallurgy was a bit off, and the receivers often present white scaling. Most of our shooters liked the way the rifle’s hammer worked. Sharpeye 2 Serial. Some had learned many moons ago how to silently cock a hammer and during hunting used the half cock. These were the testers who felt the safety on the new Short Rifle felt odd.
Still, most saw the safety features as enhancements. When cycling cartridges through the action — the only way to unload a lever action like these — the Model 100 did chew a bullet nose. Like the Model 94, the Model 100 had Marbles sights. The rear sight had screws to loosen and position a small plate with the rear sight groove. At the range the Model 100 grouped similarly to the Model 94. Cycling was smooth and second shots were easy to perform. Our Team said: The guns performed similarly, excepted our shooters dinged the Model 100 for not having a safety.
If you want a 30-30 just like granddad’s, this was the rifle to buy — and you would save hundreds of dollars in the bargain. Written and photographed by Robert Sadowski, using evaluations from Gun Tests team testers. GT Related Files • • • •. Traditional is an extremely subjective term. If you look in the dictionary you will traditionally, pun intended, find the meaning to be 'relating to, or characteristic of the older styles' with the synonym being 'conventional, customary, established'. When this term is applied to today's model 94, it is misrepresentative of this definition. Some will say the 94 stopped being traditional in 1964.
I can't disagree but I can get past it but I can't get past the hideous safety added in 1992. Yes, I realize it had to be added for international sales, mandated by people with nothing between their ears, and in their opinion, for people with nothing between their ears. I love the model 94 and still own one, a mid-80's model and have owned several down through the years and wish now I had kept them all but that relates to the term hind sight. But, to tag the beloved Winchester Model 94 with its black finish, un-conventional safety, overly inflated price and made in Japan, as 'Traditional' is taking way to many liberties with the term. Give me the old Ted Williams any day over today's 'Traditional'. Posted by: Tinpan March 29, 2016 6:16 AM.