I rarely post because somebody always makes me look like an idiot. I pulled that opinion out of the darker regions. Have there been issues with the late model American made 94's? The Japanese manufactured rifles are of better quality? How so? I know it's been 11 years but I can rattle off many models and manufacturers that have remained the same or have come down in price in the last decade. I have read nothing but good things about the quality of Japanese-made Winchesters. My second one is a Model 1894 made in 1898. When I got my first 94 I got this one made in 1946. Some collectors even prefer pre-1952 Model 94's to the 1952 to 1963 models. In response, many sought out rifles made before 1964, (pre '64), which command a markedly higher resale value on the gun market to this day. Taken together, they were seen as a retreat from quality production across the company's whole range, seriously damaging Winchester's reputation for making quality firearms in the process. While the rifle's function, safety, and accuracy were not adversely affected, the changes-in particular the sintered receiver, which was as strong as its solid-steel predecessor but which did not respond well to a traditional blued finish-were conspicuous and came as Winchester made even more fundamental changes to its flagship Model 70 bolt-action rifle.
![winchester 94ae winchester 94ae](https://lsbauctions.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Winchester-1894-94AE-94-AE-Angle-Eject-Trapper-.357-Mag-Lever-Rifle-1990s.jpg)
![winchester 94ae winchester 94ae](https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/Braxton/83/639283/H4456-L163331985.jpg)
Sintered steel was used on the receiver, stamped sheet metal for the cartridge lifter, and hollow rather than solid steel roll pins used in the action. As a result, Winchester ceased machining both the receiver and many small parts of the Model 94 out of solid steel billet as of 1964. Upon Olin's retirement, Olin Corporation's new chief executives sought to maximize company profitability, giving corporate preference to its flourishing chemical business over gun production, which was unprofitable and labor-intensive.