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February 17, 2022
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As title states I’m curious of the date nickel steel barrels were introduced on 86’s. I am sure it’s been brought up previously but I lost my mind trying to back old treads. So before I get brow beat I offer apologies up front.
April 15, 2005
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Nickel Steel barrels could have been provided as early as 1895, but most likely were not available on any of the Model 1886 rifles except the Extra Light Weight rifles. Of course, the 33 WCF rifle were made with Nickel Steel barrels when they were introduced in 1902.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
February 17, 2022
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Bert H. said
Nickel Steel barrels could have been provided as early as 1895, but most likely were not available on any of the Model 1886 rifles except the Extra Light Weight rifles. Of course, the 33 WCF rifle were made with Nickel Steel barrels when they were introduced in 1902.Bert
Thank you Bert. That helps in making sense of this 86 I’m looking at as it is a ELW from ’97.
November 9, 2008
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I have a ELW from 1897 with the “Nickel Steel” marking, I think the 1896 catalog started offering the ELW and were pricy!
November 13, 2008
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cj57 said
I have a ELW from 1897 with the “Nickel Steel” marking, I think the 1896 catalog started offering the ELW and were pricy!
hey cj57 could you and oldcrankyyankee tell me the month your extra light was produced in 1897? I have been collecting data on the early nickel steel guns. I have documented standard weight rifles produced in 1897 with the nickel steel.
Jeremy Scott.
WACA LIFE MEMBER, CFM MEMBER, ABKA MEMBER, JSSC MEMBER, MNO HISTORIAN
November 9, 2008
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Here it is, February 97, early letter, no polishing room info
November 13, 2008
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cj57 said
Here it is, February 97, early letter, no polishing room info
I added this one, Thank you very much
Jeremy Scott.
WACA LIFE MEMBER, CFM MEMBER, ABKA MEMBER, JSSC MEMBER, MNO HISTORIAN
February 17, 2022
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Jeremy Scott. said
cj57 said
I have a ELW from 1897 with the “Nickel Steel” marking, I think the 1896 catalog started offering the ELW and were pricy!
hey cj57 could you and oldcrankyyankee tell me the month your extra light was produced in 1897? I have been collecting data on the early nickel steel guns. I have documented standard weight rifles produced in 1897 with the nickel steel.
Sorry but I haven’t purchased the gun in reference yet so I don’t have details. Currently my earliest nickel barrel is a 1899 manufactured deluxe rifle in 45-90.
November 19, 2006
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Jeremy Scott. said
cj57 said
Here it is, February 97, early letter, no polishing room info
I added this one, Thank you very much
CJ – love the gun and love the letter!
November 9, 2008
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steve004 said
Jeremy Scott. said
cj57 said
Here it is, February 97, early letter, no polishing room info
I added this one, Thank you very much
CJ – love the gun and love the letter!
Steve, Thank you very much! I like it because it’s pre98 and before they standardized the ELW as a rifle variation, calling Special Light Weight
March 14, 2022
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So would it be fair to say a 40-82 cal m86 DOM 1902 would not have a nickel steel barrel?
Rick C
April 15, 2005
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Rick C said
So would it be fair to say a 40-82 cal m86 DOM 1902 would not have a nickel steel barrel?
No, not necessarily. If the person who ordered the rifle requested it to be made for smokeless powder loads, Winchester would have put a Nickel Steel barrel on it.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 14, 2022
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Thanks Bert. Appreciate the info.
Rick C
December 9, 2002
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cj57 said
Here it is, February 97, early letter, no polishing room info
cj, I’m in agreement, as I like it also. Great rifle, and being documented really makes it!
Thanks for sharing,
Anthony
November 9, 2008
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Thank you Anthony!
September 22, 2011
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Was there a point where all Winchester 1886 barrels were nickel steel, the exception being possibly the reverse only by special order?
April 15, 2005
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mrcvs said
Was there a point where all Winchester 1886 barrels were nickel steel, the exception being possibly the reverse only by special order?
For the most part, nearly all of the post-1910 production Model 1886 rifles were 33 WCF or 45-70 caliber, and Winchester used Nickel Steel alloy barrels for those cartridges. In the small number of instances when somebody ordered a Model 1886 in a different cartridge, the barrel alloy type would have depended on the specific order. Many of the late production 45-90 and 50 EX rifles are found with a Nickel Steel barrel because they were ordered for the “WHV” cartridges. Generally speaking, if you find a post-1910 production Model 1886 in 38-56 WCF, 38-70 WCF, 40-65 WCF, 40-70 WCF, or 40-82 WCF, they will not have a Nickel Steel marked barrel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
September 22, 2011
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Bert H. said
mrcvs said
Was there a point where all Winchester 1886 barrels were nickel steel, the exception being possibly the reverse only by special order?
For the most part, nearly all of the post-1910 production Model 1886 rifles were 33 WCF or 45-70 caliber, and Winchester used Nickel Steel alloy barrels for those cartridges. In the small number of instances when somebody ordered a Model 1886 in a different cartridge, the barrel alloy type would have depended on the specific order. Many of the late production 45-90 and 50 EX rifles are found with a Nickel Steel barrel because they were ordered for the “WHV” cartridges. Generally speaking, if you find a post-1910 production Model 1886 in 38-56 WCF, 38-70 WCF, 40-65 WCF, 40-70 WCF, or 40-82 WCF, they will not have a Nickel Steel marked barrel.
Bert
Thank you, Bert. That last sentence answered my question.
You summarized better what I wanted to say. Most later production being .33 Winchester or .45-70 would have been nickel steel. I surmised that might have been true for all late production.
But since it isn’t, I’m guessing it’s how the other than .45-70/.33 Winchester barrels were provided late in production. I’m guessing it was from (old) stock as I would guess if newly manufactured, it would just be easier to take a newly manufactured barrel in nickel steel and bore to an oddball caliber, such as .38-56, instead of manufacturing a non nickel steel barrel for such limited production. And then the question would also be “Why?”
