i have an older 94 (post-64') 30-30 and supposedly the firing pin does not work i cannot test this as it is also missing the buttstock. but when you work the action the hammer comes back and all bt the firing pin does not stay locked back (you can tip the gun forward and it will slide in)

is there a spring in there that is supposed to hold it or a lock or something???

i really want to fix this gun to have a spare/home defense


***edit***

dunno if i can fix it now i compared it to my 94AE and the top part of the stock mount behind the hammer is broken off. looks like i have a valuable parts gun only

Sounds like it's seen better days If you know a machinist or are willing to pay for it, they could probably machine a new part and weld it on. It's a project gun for sure though...

Think you will find in the older 94's that the firing pin floats.Only with a round in the chamber is its forward motion stopped.
When you drop the hammer on a loaded round inertia drives the pin home hard enough to set off the primer.
The older models relied on the half cock position of the hammer as a safety.
Carry with a loaded round in the chamber and the hammer fully down and you run the risk of an accidental discharge if the gun is dropped.
Winchester went to great lengths to improve the safetys from the original design although I dont think the original was that bad.

That makes sense. I grew up with an old Savage/Stevens model 94 .410, and the firing pin on it was the same way. I had to hold it up and make sure the pin was out of the way to close the barrel. I got my Grandpa's 20ga (same model) years later - same way. The firing pin was broken on it, and when I took it in to get fix the smith made a light spring to go around the pin, keeping it inside the receiver. Works just fine now. I bet a good smith could do the same for yours.