Gentlemen:

Are Win. 94 levers supposed to to be rattle loose. As a Marlin lever fan for many years, I've only recently had the chance to handle and shoot a Winchester 94. Perhaps I'm wrong, but shouldn't the lever fit close enough to have the lever press lightly against the spring loaded trigger block to prevent rattle?

Ralph

That is the built in safety. You have to actually squeeze on the lever, to push in the pin. That is the way the 94's are made. I like both 94's and Marlins, but prefer the marlins lever locking in position. You will get used to it though. Nothing wrong with the rifle.

You didnt say what year your rifle is. The latest rifles have a screw in the link and two anit-rattle washers. You can see these in the drawing on the Brownells site.
The new rifles have a little stiffer lever due to this but when they break in they drop the lever below the safety - as they were designed to do.

I have encountered newer rifles that have been apart before and the washers left out. These rifles rattled a little more and the lever had side play when opened. The rifles will work fine without the washers but will feel "loose in the lever."