Winchester 1894 .30 WCF with Stainless Steel Barrel|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

Winchester first offered the Stainless Steel barrels in September 1926 as a special order option (a $6 premium).  Due to the extra cost, very few were special ordered, and by the year 1930, Winchester began offering them at no extra cost. However, due to the onset of the Great Depression, Winchester pulled the plug on the Stainless Steel barrel production, and in the year 1931 & 1932, they expended the remaining barrel stock still in inventory.

As manufactured by Winchester, the Stainless Steel barrels were not blued. Bluing is a form of oxidation (controlled rust), and stainless steel does not oxidize (rust).  Winchester finished their stainless steel barrels by “Japanning” them.  When exposed to gun cleaning solvents, the Japanned finish dissolves leaving behind bright shiny steel.  It is relatively rare to find an original Winchester stainless steel barrel with very much of the black Japanned finish remaining on it.

If your Model 94 is indeed a 1923 production gun, it is very unlikely originally assembled with a Stainless Steel barrel.  Can you tell me what the serial number on your Model 94 is so that I can verify the date of manufacture?

Bert

Plinkerette said
Thank you for the information: The Serial Number is 952607. 
I called it bluing the barrel because I did not know what it was called, but the barrel is as you said, There is next to no black found on it at all. 
  

Hmmm… the serial number dates it to mid-January 1923, which is 6+ years too early for a Stainless Steel barrel.  While it is remotely possible that your Model 94 was returned to Winchester for a new barrel sometime after September 1926, the odds are not good.  It would be interesting to know what the 2-digit year number is that was stamped on the bottom of the barrel.

Bert

Plinkerette said
The markings under the barrel are as follows:
ST 
WP with oval
30 W.C.F 
<-
What looks like a circle or dot
We are guessing that it says 26 (the 2 is very dominate the other number shows only the bottom half of what appears to be a circle- 6 or 8) 
  

Most likely a “6”.  I believe that the majority of the Stainless Steel Model 94 barrels were manufactured in 1926 in first few batches.  It is not possible to determine if the Stainless Steel barrel is original to your Carbine.

Bert