Isn't 1964 only pertinent to Model 70s? I thought that was the year they changed the extractor and that was the reason 'Pre 64' Winchesters were regarded differently.
I bought a 1972 Winchester 94 at an auction for cheap. Currently completely dissembled and undergoing maintenance, I noticed the following:
The hammer spring is crap.
1) Rather than compressing a coil spring on an action lever, they used a 2 leaf spring. The action is not as crisp; but mushy
2) The leafs are different lengths of different materials. A bimetal insulater was not installed between the leafs; the main spring rusted.
3)As a result of a different hammer spring, the sear configuration changed. I'll just say it is inferior.
The bluing of the trigger return spring was inadequate, the spring rusted on one side.
All the major action screws were installed with red loctite. Dumb, dumb, dumb. This is the first -- and only -- Winchester lever I have taken down which has red loctite.
Overall, the general workmanship of the metalwork is just sad. Machining burrs on the backside of a drilled hole, burrs on slots in machined parts. Small details; but over time these short cuts are detrimental to a mechanical device.
When finished, this will be the nephew's hunting rifle. But, this is the last "bad years" Winchester I will work on.
Gary