pre-64 264 win. finish
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Was looking at a pre-64 .264 Winchester the other day to buy and the barrel looked a bit odd. The texture and color looked different. So I took it to two different smiths/collectors and each one told me the barrel had been reblued possibly bead blasted first. Long story short this guy told me Winchester had put a matte blue finish on their 264's and 220 swifts at the factory back then and that the finish was completely original. Is this true or was he blowing smoke.
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Not sure about the matte blue finish pre-'64...my books make no reference.
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I own both the 220 Swift and 264 Win Mag. .The 220 Swift is 1954 and the 264 WM is 1959-60.
Winchester built both these calibers with stainless steel barrels as they discovered WPS wouldn't hold up to the speed these two would produce. . The 220 Swift barrel is "Iron Blasted" stainless steel that would enable the barrel to be rust blued. . The exterior finish is not smooth but a tad course to the touch. The 264 WM barrel is chemically blued stainless steel. . This produces a slightly different appearance than rust blued WPS but the stainless barrel is blued just the same. . It's a matt finish on a smooth surface. The 220 Swift is a heavier barrel than my standard calibers but the 264 is 26" standard barrel. The secret to both these calibers is letting the barrel cool when at the range. . The barrel will last a lot longer. Rod |
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Thanks for the info Rod !!
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All,
Here is what I learned many long yeas ago. I am no expert but here what I "knew" back then (early to mid 1960's). I know this question was answered above but, here goes anyway. What I was told back then was that the stainless steel barrel (.264 Win Mag) was iron plated and then blued. That gave a slightly gray tint to the barrel. NRA Life Benefactor Member, Ham Radio (K7CCA)
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Thanks for that insight sir.
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No, the 264 WM barrel was not iron plated. . The stainless barrel was blued with a bluing chemical that works with stainless. . Rod |
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