1894 Win Nickel steel??

[Marvin S]

When did Winchester start using Nickel Steel for the mod 1894?

[BoolitBill]

I don't know the answer to your question but I have an 1894 Winchester made in 1927 and it says nickle steel on the barrel.

[shdwlkr]

winchester started using nickel steel barrels in 1895 one source I found said the same time the 30-30 came out

[Marvin S]

So it was maybe hit and miss depending on the caliber? I have been shopping for a 1894 SRC in 32-40 and was just trying to educate myself. I already have a 38-55 mod 94 and a new Hi-wall in 32-40 and was just wanting an old 32-40. It's hard to beat the original calibers for cast loads.

[jh45gun]

From what I heard was Winchester did not have their nickel steel barrels perfected yet when they came out in 1894 so they did not put out the 30/30 and the 25/35 which used smokeless powder until 95 when the nickel steel barrels were ready to use.

[shdwlkr]

that would make total sense why the nickel steel barrels were only used for smokeless powder rifles. Makes me wonder when they went to all the rifles.

[Marvin S]

Okay went and bought a book on the Win 94 and it's all clear as mud now. There we about four different types of steel used. The first was the standard carbon alloy for black powder only with the 5 percent nickel being used after that mainly for the 30WCF 25-35 and 32 special. These later chamberings will have nickel steel weather it is marked as such or not.
For a short time they tried a 1-2 percent nickel steel (Extra Steel) after the 5 percent because it worked easier but this lower nickel was a failure and they went back to the 5 percent.

If you have a 32-40 or 38-55 marked as nickel steel it was a special order. Then came the mid 1920s they tried a stainless steel that proved to be cost-ineffective and hard to machine at the time. Along came approx 1933 with the use of Winchester proof steel (Chrome Moly) and that is what was used from then on.

So I guess the answer is it depends.

[JIMinPHX]

That nickel steel is awfully durable stuff. It holds up well to all sorts of abuse. It is NOT easy to drill or tap though.

[roharmon]

My 1894 32-40 SRC has a black powder barrel. It was manufactured 1n 1910.


QUOTE=Marvin S;953450]So it was maybe hit and miss depending on the caliber? I have been shopping for a 1894 SRC in 32-40 and was just trying to educate myself. I already have a 38-55 mod 94 and a new Hi-wall in 32-40 and was just wanting an old 32-40. It's hard to beat the original calibers for cast loads.[/QUOTE]

[stubbicatt]

My 1904 Model 1894 has an octagon barrel marked Nickel steel. If that helps any.

[TXGunNut]

Marvin S is correct. George Madis discusses the barrel materials and markings at length in his scholarly Winchester Book. In the early days Winchester was pretty flexible so there were few hard and fast rules for the conformation of most of their rifle and carbine models. A nickel steel barrel should also have the Winchester proof markings but there are exceptions to that as well. The "Nickel Steel" stamping was discontinued around the 1,035,000 mark IIRC.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I have an 1895 in 405WCF that is marked nickel steel and has the proof mark, but 95s were made IIRC into the 1930s so I'm not sure when mine was made. LLS

[OverMax]

Sitting here looking at my 32-40 1894 made in 1916. No mention on its barrel what its made of?
And too. I highly doubt this L-B rifle shot any B/P. Has a bright nice bore.

[John Taylor]

Marlin marked their's as "special smokeless"