Looking at a used M94 that has seen a number of seasons. The finish on the receiver is worn off in spots in odd ways... I am wondering if they built them with aluminum receivers? Never studied up on M94's much.

Did not bother asking about the year of manufacture with the flaky receiver.

They never had aluminum receivers. However, all the post 1964 model 94 receivers were made of a graphitic steel casting. Some had iron plated receivers,and some were black chrome plated. That gun was probably made after 1964. The blue often wore off in splotches.


"Winchester 1894 receivers between 2,770,000 and 5,024,957 (1964-1981) were machined from a graphitic steel casting and will not accept normal blueing. To make it more confusing, serial numbers 3,185,692 to 3,806,499 (1968-1972) were black chrome plated, and 3,806,500 to 5,024,957 (1972 -1981) were iron plated."
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http://www.gunblue.homestead.com/Stainless.html


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Aha! Thanks for the very good scoop.

Read somewhere that when the AE came along that the steel was changed again, thus post 64 up to AE was the window where bluing quality was spotty