As said, despite all the print and internet verbiage, I've found no documentation or someone willing to guess the composition of Winchester Stainless Steel.
The options:
Krupp's austentic stainless developed about 1912 with .04% carbon, 16.5-18% Cr, 10-13% Ni. 316 also has 2-2.5% Mo
Haynes' 1919 patent martensitic 420 with 12-14% Cr and C < .15%. It is very hard at Brinell 241 - much harder that 4340 at 217.
Hatfield's "18/8" was patented in 1924.
Possibly contributors could step up and suggest what the steel WAS rather than what it was NOT? What other options were there in 1926 when Winchester Stainless Steel was introduced?
