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Were all Pre 64, 264 Win Mag. Barrels Stainless?

Seen the stainless marked barrels with Japan black that were thin on blue/black. Also have seen well used guns with good blue and they were not marked stainless. What is the answer?

I am not 100% sure if Stainless was used exclusively or not, but the 264 was later production and would have the older Stainless finish and the new process. The older was the iron plated then frosted blue finish and would have the bare stainless muzzle crown. The later process looked nearly like conventional blue barrels; I don;t know/remember if they had plain or blued muzzle crowns, but my bet is blued.

FYI Win 70 barrels weren't marked Stainless on exposed markings; all 70 barrels were marked Winchester proof steel. The stainless identification was underneath by the chamber and usually ST. Roger Rules book also says SS and Stainless were sometimes used but I never personally saw that. My friend had a few takeoff 264 barrels and I wish I had paid more attention when I looked at them all a few years back.

Rifleman's Rifle page 111 lists 264 with std 26" #2 and 22" Fwt barrels #10 as CM. #7 is 26" std in Stainless. So they weren't all Stainless.

In 264 WM: Have both finishes. The stainless black finish seems not to survive a half century well! My FW is normal.