This Technical Note documents the well-known transitions from black-powder barrels to Nickel Steel to Proof Steel, entirely through public catalogs, patent filings, and surviving rifles. These marking sequences are foundational to dating and authenticity analysis.
Era-Specific Barrel Steels
- 1894–1895: For Black Powder
- 1896–1931: Nickel Steel Barrel Especially for Smokeless Powder
- 1932–1963: Proof Steel
Rollmark Die Changes
Die wear, character spacing, and serif drift provide strong dating signals. Nickel Steel dies undergo three known spacing transitions; Proof Steel dies stabilize around the mid-1930s.
Caliber Placement Migration
Caliber stamp placement—near the receiver vs. near the muzzle—changed in predictable phases, publicly visible on thousands of surviving examples.
Specifications — TN-04 Scope
- Category: Barrels & Markings
- Focus: Steel types, rollmark evolution, caliber stamping shifts
- Eras Covered: 1894–1963
- Used In: Chapters 10, 18, 26, 31
- Related TNs: TN-05, TN-06
Citations (Source-Based)
Winchester catalogs 1894–1963; public rollmark reference photos from museum rifles; USPTO filings for barrel steel treatments; period ammunition literature indicating smokeless adoption timelines; cross-verified printed references.
WARNING: