My bud has an older Win 94 that from the serial number 939XXX, puts it at a 1925 manufacture, 30WCF chamber, states the barrel was made with Nickel Steel, barrel has a length of 25 inches. Anyone know how many of these were made with Nickel Steel?
I’m no expert but I’m pretty sure all of them. Nickel steel was not anything special, just sort of an advertising gimmick for Winchester when it could say “Made with nickel steel.” And I also think it differentiated from the first year or two of production where Winchester had trouble getting the steel right for smokeless use.
Nickel steel was what Winchester went too from the start to handle smokeless pressures. They used it if I remember right up until sometime mid 30's. Then they switched to the Winchester Proof Steel that continued on until they quit I'm pretty sure.
