When did Chrome Lined appear in the M1 line?

[Lenity-Rules]

When did Chrome Lined appear in the M1 line?
 

We know there are many barrels of the M1 to include the extension that are blued. 
 

Any help appreciated.

[REZARF2]

Mine is HK marked and chrome lined. M1S90, I have no idea the date of manufacture. 

[Lenity-Rules]

Thanks for the post.

I originally posted out of curiosity because I was going to settle for an m1 barrel. I also may have gotten confused by other’s “for sale ads” not correctly identifying the barrel-to-receiver type. Some blued others chrome. Pictures help from more than 1 angle….

 

 

[bambihunter]

Early, very early.

I believe in your question, you are referring to not the bore being chrome lined, but rather the receiver extension being blued versus chromed. With that assumption... 

I have one M1 ~20" smoothbore barrel (pictured on top below) with rifle type sites that was purchased new in Nov. 1989. I am going from memory, but I think the barrel code showed it from 1988. Every other Benelli barrel extension I have regardless of the model are chromed aside from the SBE. On the SBE, that is part of the receiver instead of going IN the receiver.

 

I am sure most people ignore this plea, but for those of us with an M1 plead that M2 owners will buy M2 barrels instead of buying up all the M1 barrels. Yes, the M2 can use the M1 barrels without modification, but the opposite is not true due to a longer recoil lug and the stop ring on the barrel that goes against the receiver. This makes those out of production M1 barrels harder to find and more expensive when found.

[bambihunter]

Receiver differences between M2 (left) and M1 (right)

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 02:03 PM by bambihunter

[Lenity-Rules]

Thank you for the post. Yes, an indicator if it is an m2 or M1 is the “ear” on the extension of an m2 or the “ring” to prevent over/under insertion. Therein likes the problem determine the two if photos (of which I’ve ran across) do not show a closeup of the extension/barrel joint. Nor will they rotate the barrel to a degree where you can determine if it’s an m1 or m2 extension. I’ll be honest, I just received an m2 barrel that was marketed as an m1. Talk about luck! I spent other monies in prep for the arrival with no use….

 

I can with surety recall seeing a blued extension. The premise is that if the extension is blued, the rest of the barrel is as well.
 

Regarding snapping up M1 for M2…..all I can say is be on the lookout. If you need it, keep looking daily. Yeah, parts are drying up. No longer are parts kits sub 250 or near….all thanks to a recent news article.
 

If anyone wants to trade for mint factory Benelli S Nova parts, let me know. I may also have either a mint m2 comfort or late model standard straight that is dimensionally identical (cage and all). Depends on what route I want to go down. 

[Lenity-Rules]

Since you’re an aficionado for Benelli, do you believe the comfort is worth the switch? I have the key parts to do the conversion. The extension tube should be the same mm type from my research. I also assume the spacer/drop/comb plates are the same. Again, both late model builds.

[bambihunter]

Regarding the receiver extension tubes, one has to watch on the older ones as at least on some models they changed the nut size and if memory serves, the thread pitch too.

You asked "Is the comfort worth the switch?" Are you referring to the Comfortech stock? If so, I don't think so but I haven't used them all that much. When they first came out I tried some of the friends SBE's that had them. To me, it was there, but if I wasn't thinking about it, I likely wouldn't have noticed the difference. For those 3.5", the difference was less than going from inertia Benelli to gas Beretta for instance. The Benelli's are lighter so that contributes to the recoil. One can also add a mercury buffer which is supposed to help with that as well. There are new LimbSaver pads that are quite cushy too. I have one on my .338 Lapua and it made a noticeable difference over that old Remington r3 pad that was on it (that turned all gooey). However, for shotgunning that requires quick shouldering shots, I think I'd snag it constantly on my clothing. Not a problem for a single calculated shot from a rifle, but could waste time in a fast paced wing shooting hunt.

I'm an old waterfowler and while I'll admit to anyone shooting 3.5" at high angles is painful, normal shot angles and 3" I don't really notice much. Not trying to be macho, but I think it is like the old adage that you never feel recoil when you shoot that trophy buck but you sure feel it on those long sessions while sighting the rifle in, especially if it is a caliber that thumps you.

I have saved searches set up on Gunbroker and a few other places keeping an eye for me for the things I want. It is handy since it seems most stuff I like is out of production.

That top picture with the M1 shows a barrel with the blued extension. The gun in the picture and the barrel in the gun is a couple years newer and has the typical silver extension.

I haven't ever owned a Nova. Even though I have a pair of Benelli M4 (one factory NP3 one, plus a blued one assembled out nice), I like Benelli because of the inertia action. I do have one pump gun that I inherited, that I never use. I would like to get an Ithaca 37 "Sweet 16" for no other reason than because I have always wanted one.