I don't know when it started, but my 1903 manufactured model 94 in 30 WCF has Nickle Steel stamped in the barrel. My 38-55 which is S/N 5XXX was manufactured late 94 or early 95, but doesn't have the external rail screws. It is NOT stamped Nickel Steel. Doesn't mean it doesn't have it, but it isn't stamped that way. Now, it is my understanding that when they started making the 30 WCF in the 94 they were made with Nickel Steel to withstand the pressures of smokeless. The one think I am absolutely accurate on is, that it is easy to find someone who knows more about these than me.
With the introduction of the smokeless Powder is where all the changes were geared up to in the 1894 ! Haven't followed any of the other rifles of this
error......(to many of them) lol...........Ol Deuce
Do the Best with What you have !
I have 1894 32win spec,thought about having it bored to 38-55.Will see
38-55 is the BEST lever cartridge EVER!!
I love my old '94, made in 1900. (I have others, but this one is my favourite!!)
Once took a grouse with it at a paced off 48 yards... in heavy brush!
took off the top quarter inch of its head with a 255 grain hard cast lead flat nose.
I think the 38-55 is simply the best lever cartridge ever developed!
I also have the 16 inch trapper version, but it's newish - from the 1990s. LOL
The_Doctor
Congrats on your purchase, Huntrick!!
Boy, if the rest of that rifle looks that good, you have a nice one. Not a lot of metal finish but the wood in the wrist looks good and no splinters.
That tang sight is a #1 I think, from what I can see in the picture.
Nice!
Chill Wills
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |