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February 26, 2022
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I am curious to understand the differences in metallurgy between the 1887 and 1901 shotguns. It’s been a bit confusing to me as I imagined the 1901 upgrade was in switching from case hardened to heat treated receivers for smokeless powder since both the ’87 and ’01 offered three and four blade Damascus (’01 until 1914) in addition to the standard rolled steel barrels. Madis’ Winchester Handbook states that the differences between the two were due to “a change in the composition of the barrel.” Likely a switch to using nickel steel alloy as they used in their rifle barrels for smokeless, but was their Damascus process also switching to nickel steel alloys for smokelss pressures?
April 15, 2005
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Todd,
The barrels on the Model 1887 and Model 1901 were metallurgically identical (Madis was dead wrong in his assertion). Winchester did not use Nickel Steel barrels for the Model 1901.
The difference between the two models was in the heat treating process used for the Model 1901 receiver frames, and the blued finish.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
February 26, 2022
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Hi Bert-
Thanks for clarifying that. In Madis’ earlier Winchester Book he confirms the differences are in the receiver and doesn’t mention barrel differences. I’d like to find a decent 1901 and am doing my homework.
Todd
April 15, 2005
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Todd U said
Hi Bert-Thanks for clarifying that. In Madis’ earlier Winchester Book he confirms the differences are in the receiver and doesn’t mention barrel differences. I’d like to find a decent 1901 and am doing my homework.
Todd
Per the factory records, Winchester manufactured just 13,431 Model 1901 shotguns through the year 1919 (when standard production was ceased). From January 1920 through November 1931, an additional 383 parts clean-up guns were assembled, bringing the total production to 13,814 guns.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
