NS marked bolts

[Calif-Steve]

John: I heard a rather long story about a Winchester engineer who was in the Army Reserve (circa 1918). The story goes he was shipped off to RIA in 1918 and helped RIA with the nickel steel production. I don't know much more then that. I really don't know if the stroy is true. Interesting, at least.

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[John Beard]

John: I heard a rather long story about a Winchester engineer who was in the Army Reserve (circa 1918). The story goes he was shipped off to RIA in 1918 and helped RIA with the nickel steel production. I don't know much more then that. I really don't know if the stroy is true. Interesting, at least.

I have no information on a Winchester engineer working at RIA in 1918.

When the heat treatment problem erupted, a special team headed by Col. W. P. Barba was formed to investigate. Barba, I am led to believe, worked out of the Ordnance office in Washington, D.C.

Barba dispatched a special investigative team to RIA under the command of Maj. R. P. Johnson. After Maj. Johnson's team completed their investigation, they recommended in mid-March, 1918, that RIA be permitted to switch over to 3-1/2% nickel steel. Their recommendation was approved and orders were immediately placed with the Crucible Steel Co. and the Illinois Steel Co. for nickel steel to be delivered in 6-8 weeks. The first nickel steel receiver was serialized on August 1, 1918, and bore S/N 319921. My investigation, however, reveals that RIA didn't switchover to nickel steel en masse until about 60,000 receivers later.

RIA had lots of heat-treating expertise and capability of their own. And nickel steel was not particularly difficult to heat treat. I would, therefore, question their need for assistance.

Perhaps RIA required assistance with machining nickel steel. Nickel steel, I believe, is a bit more difficult to machine than carbon steel.

Hope this helps.

J.B.