Winchester 94 reblueing

[CarlsenHighway]

Gentlemen,

Will a Winchester 94 receiver made in 1976 hot blue properly or were they still using an alloy at that time?

[J Miller]

Gentlemen,

Will a Winchester 94 receiver made in 1976 hot blue properly or were they still using an alloy at that time?

All steel receivers regardless of weather Winchester or otherwise is an alloy. The receivers used by Winchester in their 94s from 64 to 82 was simply a steel alloy casting. Sintered metal forced into a mold with a catalyst then heated to the melting point to fill the mold. A strong long wearing casting. Minimal machining to finish it.
However it's lousy when it comes to normal bluing. The last ones from about 77 on (not sure the exact year) were iron plated then normally blued. I have an 80 vintage and without really looking at it you can't tell.
But I doubt if it could be reblued with any success.
There is a company that claims they can reblue these receivers, but I have never seen any of their work so I really can't say.
I thought I had their link, but I can't find it.

Joe

[CarlsenHighway]

Thanks Joe.

[Bruce Scott]

There is a company that claims they can reblue these receivers, but I have never seen any of their work so I really can't say.
I thought I had their link, but I can't find it.

Joe

Possibly George Roghaar Firearm Refinishing.
http://gunblue.homestead.com/Stainless.html

"Winchester 1894 receivers between 2,770,000 and 5,024,957 (1964-1981) were machined from a graphitic steel casting and will not accept normal blueing. To make it more confusing, serial numbers 3,185,692 to 3,806,499 (1968-1972) were black chrome plated, and 3,806,500 to 5,024,957 (1972 -1981) were iron plated.

I can hot blue all of these, but must first grind off the plating. The shiniest finish that can go on these is 400 grit ( about factory). "

[J Miller]

There is a company that claims they can reblue these receivers, but I have never seen any of their work so I really can't say.
I thought I had their link, but I can't find it.

Joe

Possibly George Roghaar Firearm Refinishing.
http://gunblue.homestead.com/Stainless.html

"Winchester 1894 receivers between 2,770,000 and 5,024,957 (1964-1981) were machined from a graphitic steel casting and will not accept normal blueing. To make it more confusing, serial numbers 3,185,692 to 3,806,499 (1968-1972) were black chrome plated, and 3,806,500 to 5,024,957 (1972 -1981) were iron plated.

I can hot blue all of these, but must first grind off the plating. The shiniest finish that can go on these is 400 grit ( about factory). "

Bruce,

You are correct. That is the one I was thinking of. I just couldn't remember the name and couldn't find it. Thanks for posting it.

Joe

[gak]

I have wondered about specific later change dates as well. I have two '79s, one in near-new condition that looks pretty close to my Pre-64s, and a darn sight better than earlier Post 64s I've handled, especially the very early ones as has been mentioned. The other is an excellent-condition Trapper with a few very minor/superficial rust spots (ticking) that's overdue a light oiling that should rid 99% of them. It does seem that the late 70s (77+/- or so as one poster said) have a nicer finish. For some reason I've seen a fair number of ca 77-81 moodels in great shape lately that all look pretty close to the vaunted 94s of yore.

[J Miller]

gak,

You're right. In the late 70s they changed the way they finished the receivers. I've read that they iron plated the receiver, then did a normal hot blue over that. What ever they did it looks very good compared to the earlier post-64s. I have an 80 vintage Trapper that has a bit of wear and some freckles on it. When I first saw it I almost thought they'd gone back to the old style receiver.
If you go to the "One Sticky" and find the section on How to tell the pre from the post 64s, that's my 1980 in the pics with the pre-64.


Joe

[gak]

Joe, I'll take a look at that sticky. I think the very late Wins--the few years before the USRAC changeover--are pretty decent guns. They're also a pretty good basis for "making" a Pre War SRC or Trapper out of--with Precision Gunstock wood or such--as I'm thinking for one of mine at some point...without the guilt of messing up a regular Pre-64!