I used to look through the Weatherby catalogs pretty regularly, but I don't recall mention of nickel plating. I'd most likely have tried to forget, though. That plating always seemed gaudy to me.
I wound up in 1971-ish with a Mark V. #2 profile, 26" barrel, in .30-'06. German made. The trigger never seemed righteous, so I put a Canjar on it. Had to float and shim the barrel to get good groups, but it still gives me 3/4 to 1 MOA. Ol' Pet has been with me for many a mile in really rough country...
Art