Log In
December 31, 2012
Offline
JWA, Bert, and M1906 experts. Is the muzzle on a M1906 Deluxe blued or in the white? Thanks, Big Larry
April 15, 2005
Offline
Big Larry said
JWA, Bert, and M1906 experts. Is the muzzle on a M1906 Deluxe blued or in the white? Thanks, Big Larry
If the barrel has a flat uncrowned muzzle, it should always be in the white.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 31, 2012
Offline
Thanks Bert.
January 27, 1992
Offline
I am under the impression that when Winchester changed to the “Dulite” finish, in later production, that the muzzle was not left in the “white”. Have I been misinformed? Thanks. RDB
April 15, 2005
Offline
rogertherelic said
I am under the impression that when Winchester changed to the “Dulite” finish, in later production, that the muzzle was not left in the “white”. Have I been misinformed? Thanks. RDB
Roger,
Production of the Model 1906/06 ended in June 1932 (at S/N 846022)… well before the Dulite bluing formula was first used. Barrels were “rust” blued and had flat muzzle faces up through 1937. Starting in early 1938, all rifle barrels were crowned & blued.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 27, 1992
Offline
Thanks. I must have a 2 re-blued “06’s. Explains the nice condition. Serial nos. 837315 and 846774. Sure fooled me. Not the first time. 
RDB
April 15, 2005
Offline
rogertherelic said
Thanks. I must have a 2 re-blued “06’s. Explains the nice condition. Serial nos. 837315 and 846774. Sure fooled me. Not the first time.
Can you send me pictures of both rifles to include the muzzle faces and the proof mark stamps on the barrels? I will presume that both rifles have a flat muzzle face? The second rifle (846774) is one of the 8,725 parts clean-up rifles that was manufactured after regular production had ended. Accordingly, it could be correct with a blued muzzle face, but I would also expect it to have a crowned muzzle.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 27, 1992
Offline
The 846774 is on the left in the muzzel shots and has the tang sight. Still need to purchase a better camera, but this should help. RDB
November 1, 2013
Offline
rogertherelic said
Proof mark on rcvr of lower gun looks like it has been deliberately abraded, but maybe there’s another explanation.
December 31, 2012
Offline
With the shiny proofs, the rifles do not appear to be redone. The muzzles may have turned color over years of cleaning solutions dripping on the muzzle.
I think the M1906’s are the most reblued and rebbld. rifles there are. Nice, un molested pieces are extremely hard to find.
The seller of the deluxe rifle I asked about, admitted to it being redone. Nice job too, but $1,600? I have 5 now, one was rebbld at Winchester and has the Win. proof mark. It also has a crowned muzzle, which is correct per Schwings book. Another is the rare STAINLESS STEEL. Near 99% of the Japanned finish remains. Bbl. date matches the serial number, so I think it came from the factory originally with the Stainless bbl.
Roger, those two rifles appear to be very fine specimens. Could be they are factory parts cleanup rifles? Generally, those have the best condition. I have a M62-A late parts clea
nup, and it is about 98 to 99%. Big Larry
January 27, 1992
Offline
Thanks for the observation Clarence, at this point of my collecting nothing surprises me. The proof mark does seem to have less “blue coverage” then when I purchased it. I am finding more and more that the guns I purchased seem to be not as nice as I thought they were when first acquired. “Old Age”? “Bad memory”? I am blaming poor gun show lighting. Thanks again for your observations. RDB 
November 1, 2013
Offline
Big Larry said
With the shiny proofs, the rifles do not appear to be redone.
I know there should be bare steel showing around the edges of the die strike, but for such a large spot to be completely bare is not common. If a smart restorer knew smart collectors were scrutinizing proof marks for blue loss, he could probably devise a means to fake it. Then again, why worry about “smart collectors” if you’re selling on GB? You’ll do very well without them.
April 15, 2005
Offline
Both of Roger’s 06 rifles appear to have unblued (in the white) muzzle faces. The proof marks look perfectly normal for the Winchesters manufactured during the “Flaking” time period. When the proof mark was struck, it caused nearly 100% of the bluing to “pop” loose leaving behind bright steel. I have seen this exact same thing on several other Winchester Models that were manufactured from 1920 – 1936.
The rifles look correct and original, including the unblued (in the white) muzzle faces. The slight coloration you are seeing is a result of firing the rifle and not immediately cleaning the powder residue off of the muzzle. It eventually causes a staining effect on the bare steel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 31, 2012
Offline
Yep. I looked my M1906’s over today and all are stained except the stainless steel rifle. You can readily tell if they have been blued over. Big Larry
November 1, 2013
Offline
Bert H. said The proof marks look perfectly normal for the Winchesters manufactured during the “Flaking” time period. When the proof mark was struck, it caused nearly 100% of the bluing to “pop” loose leaving behind bright steel. I have seen this exact same thing on several other Winchester Models that were manufactured from 1920 – 1936.
Always thought flaking was a problem that took many yrs to reveal itself; but if this could occur so quickly, it makes the 16 yrs it persisted even harder to fathom.
December 31, 2012
Offline
Bert H. said
Both of Roger’s 06 rifles appear to have unblued (in the white) muzzle faces. The proof marks look perfectly normal for the Winchesters manufactured during the “Flaking” time period. When the proof mark was struck, it caused nearly 100% of the bluing to “pop” loose leaving behind bright steel. I have seen this exact same thing on several other Winchester Models that were manufactured from 1920 – 1936.The rifles look correct and original, including the unblued (in the white) muzzle faces. The slight coloration you are seeing is a result of firing the rifle and not immediately cleaning the powder residue off of the muzzle. It eventually causes a staining effect on the bare steel.
Bert
Haven’t seen this phenomena in any Win. M52. Early or late. Here’s two for Clarence. Big Larry
November 1, 2013
Offline
Big Larry said
Haven’t seen this phenomena in any Win. M52. Early or late. Here’s two for Clarence. Big Larry
Cruel for you to tease me that way, Larry.
April 15, 2005
Offline
The attached picture is a 1921 production Model 94 SRC. The proof mark stamps on it are very typical of all the Model 94s manufactured from 1920 through the early 1930s.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
1 Guest(s)
