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November 21, 2023
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I just recently purchased a model 74. I checked the serial and it’s a 1941 model. My question is did any come chrome or nickel plated or were they all blued? I can’t find anything on the internet so I’m assuming it was done after the fact. I called Winchesters customer service line and they referred me to this page. Any help would be appreciated.
(Can’t figure out how to add photos)
July 17, 2012
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Hi Derrick,
Welcome as a new member! You came to the right place for Winchester questions.
Firstly, for photos, if you are a WACA guest you will have to place the photos with a hosting service (such as Imgur, Photobucket, etc.) and then insert the link into your post. A work-around to that is to send them to a forum member and we can insert them directly/post them for you.
Regarding your Model 74, they came blued as standard and were not offered with chrome or nickel as a catalogued variation. However, Winchester did offer special order nickel plating on any rifle for an upcharge although it was almost never done on the low-cost .22 models.
Now, having said that, it is not unusual to find a Model 74 chambered in .22 Short that has been chrome plated since it was a popular gun used in shooting galleries and the chrome plating made the rifle cleaning at the end of the day much easier and the rifle would hold up to being handled everyday far better. Typically the Shooting Gallery owner would have that plating done locally.
Is your Model 74 .22 LR or .22 Short?
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
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