Guns & Outdoors Forum

It's been awhile since I've had it out.
Last time it or I shot worth......well not good.

Today I pulled it out and had a bit of a revelation.
I always assumed.....It was just well worn to a silver color.

Now I'm not so sure....I think it may have been a special order nickel one.

I didn't expect much after my last outing and basically just wanted to see if it was keyholing.

Right now I'm thinking it came as a nickel gun.

Looking a bit closer you may well be right. The loading gate and screws certainly look nickel. It may be letter time.

Very nice
I have seen a blued version of one of those years ago. The nickel plated version is an upgrade and the stock is from a better grade of walnut.
Might check the serial to determine the manufacture date.

I did check the serial today Japhy it dates to 1885

That one might get a decent bid on the auction sites
Or you could put it along side all those Winchester pumps you have collected.

Was it keyholing before? What did you do different?

Shoots good!! .32-20??!!

Chiro1989 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 12, 2023 12:58 pm Was it keyholing before? What did you do different?

I wasn't shooting paper last time......but it was all over the place.
It may have been different ammo but it was bad.
That's why I just wanted to hit paper a few times to check.

Big Al1 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 12, 2023 2:12 pm Shoots good!! .32-20??!!

This one is 44-40.....it's funny to shoot as it sounds like a mortar.

Looks nickel to me. If you took off the fore end, which may tell you since it's not been exposed to the elements.

As sharp as the barrel lettering is, it's not a refinish. Underside of the sight, inside of the buttplate, under the pump handle, and between the barrel and mag should tell the tale on nickel or not.

Keyholing. . .or not. . . Really just a matter of sussing out what the barrel needs. Pounding a pure lead slug down the barrel to get your groove diameter and running bullets of 10-12 BHN sized .001" to .002" over that should be all that's REALLY required to make it sing.

It's definitely nickel on it now.
I never really even thought it could have been special ordered in nickel.
Quite frankly just thought it was worn that way......duh

I did put in for a letter.
Would be a BA CAS gun.

That’s a slick rifle! Slug the barrel it will shoot fine with the right bullets

JunkCollector wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2023 11:17 am It's definitely nickel on it now.
I never really even thought it could have been special ordered in nickel.
Quite frankly just thought it was worn that way......duh

I did put in for a letter.
Would be a BA CAS gun.

IT would absolutely be a badazz CAS gun! Even better in factory nickel plating

The loading gate is a giveaway for nickel. If it was originally blue, the lg would be blue. That's the last thing to lose its finish. YMMV...that's just my opinion.