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I recently received a 10 gauge 1887 shotgun which has a nickel finish. Having read every post I can find on this forum it does not seem that nickel plating was ever an option. My father has been told by a couple gunsmiths over the years that it is factory nickel. Could it have been a special order?
It is in OK shape but missing the bead and the stock has been replaced. Any thoughts on the nickel finish are appreciated.
Ronald,
Your Model 1887 does not appear to be Nickel plated to me. Instead, all of the original finish has been removed from the steel leaving behind bare (raw) steel in the white. It appears that there was some substantial rust pitting on the receiver frame, and to remove most of it, somebody scrubbed the steel as clean as they could get it with something mildly abrasive.
If Winchester had originally nickel plated it, it would be listed in the factory records, and the CFM records office can (for a fee) provide you with a factory letter that will tell precisely when it was manufactured, and the configuration it left the factory in.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert,
Thank you. It is some good steel then as my father had it hanging on a rack in a rather humid house (in the summer at least) for the last 50 years and it has only rusted on the surface, mostly from finger prints. The reason I thought it had to be plated was there is no blueing, not even in relatively hidden places such as between the barrel and shell tube.
Appreciate your time. I will look into getting the record from CFM.
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