This 1894, 38-55 rifle is for sale at auction presently. It is serial # 877XXX (per auction), so has a DOM of 1918. What are the chances that this gun is original considering the condition of the bluing on the receiver at least? I’m not sure I’ve seen a rifle of this vintage that did not have some sort of flaking etc on the receiver, and most of them have lost a big % of original bluing on the receiver. I am a bit suspicious. I know the pictures are not great, but that is all that auction supplied.Thanks in advance. Eagle
Bert H. said
The flaking bluing problem went through the early 1930s. It is found on the lever-action Models 53, 55, 92, and 94. It is also found on a number of other models.Bert
It occurred on some of the bolt action Model 52 and 56/57 receivers during that period also.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
November 7, 2015

My 1892 built in 1915 has a bad case of it, maybe it was a bit ahead of it’s time.
Thanks for the information. On a bit different note, I would like to know when Winchester stopped case coloring the lever, hammer, and butt plate. I read in Bob R’s book that the hammer went to blued verses case in mid/late 1913. Is it fair to assume that the lever and butt plate changed about the same time, and would it have changed on the 1892’s around then also? Thanks, Eagle
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