A Few Question?

[Swampman]

Did T/C ever make a 26" stainless fluted 209X50 barrel without sights?  How can you tell a Weathershield barrel from stainless?  Are Pro Hunter barrels marked Pro Hunter?

[josiah712]

I'm not the best help on this subject, but since nobody else is jumping on it, I will try and shed some light on it.
 
26'' 209x50 no sights:  I don't think so, but I don't have a complete catalog collection.  It sure looks like you can get one that way from E.A. Brown right now:
 
http://www.eabco.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=2132&parent=53&is_print_version=true
 
Weathershield is a ceramic coating.  If not identified by markings, you should be able to distinguish this coating from the virgin (white metal) of the stainless.  If not; use a little metal polish below the barrel where the forestock would cover.  The stainless will polish easily.  Here's a Weathershield from the same company:
 
http://www.eabco.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=2132&parent=53&is_print_version=true
 
I can't find an answer on the markings, hopefully someone who has one will answer you tomorrow.  On this site Randy Wakeman will give some details that may interest you:
 
http://www.chuckhawks.com/t-c_encore_pro_hunter.htm
 
 
 
 
 

[Swampman]

I notice the barrel lug appears "blued" on the 26" Weathershield barrel in the picture.  I'm betting a stainless barrel has a stainless lug.

[josiah712]

Absolutely.
 
Good catch.  So now you have your identifier.

[TRM-1]

There were some stainless 26" 209x50 made that were fluted when the pro hunter came out. I seen one sitting right beside a 28 inch one on gander mountain shelf many years ago. Of course that was before any of the weathershield barrels or frames were being made.
      As for the blued lug on weathershield I have seen them on stainless barrels also. Not sure if they are just blued or something else.

Sent from my Motorola Electrify using Tapatalk 2

[josiah712]

So they must be using the same carbon steel underlugs on all barrels.  So that won't identify anything.
 
I still think that a ceramic coated barrel will not look or feel just like a stainless barrel.
 
Maybe you could start another thread entitled "Who Has a T/C Weathershield".  If someone here has one, they're bound to have some answers.

[dave29]

 
I still think that a ceramic coated barrel will not look or feel just like a stainless barrel.
 

They are totally different side by side. The Weathershield has a rougher and duller finish. SS is very smooth in comparison.

[dave29]

Also, the only 26" Fluted PH barrels that I know of are Weathershield.

[Swampman]

Me too...

[josiah712]

Thanks, Dave.  That settles it.
 
For what it's worth, my choice would be stainless.  All coatings can fail, some easily. I have even had high quality nickled guns let go.  Screw up on a Stainless gun, and you only have to remove the rust.
 
There is just too many faddish (Johnny come lately) finishes, and T/C has been there.  Remember the old Armor Alloy Contenders?  What was that, for maybe one or two years?

[dave29]

The Weathershield seems like a strong finish though. All I own is a frame with that finish and it gets used, and I can't tell any wear on it.

[Swampman]

The bore being unfinished is the problem.

[josiah712]

Well, that is certainly a worthy consideration.
 
I am mostly an old fashioned black metal gun, rather than white metal gun, type guy.  Even though they are much less forgiving when it comes to gun care.
 
But I still can appreciate the qualities of stainless.  To my understanding, the stainless steel being used now is brutally hard, and practically immune to barrel and throat erosion.