Mail order proof barrel

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Pat C
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Mail order proof barrel

Post by Pat C »

Barrels shipped from Winchester to be installed by gunsmith s had mail order proof above the W/P proof.
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Trailboss
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Re: Mail order proof barrel

Post by Trailboss »

Pat C wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:16 pm Barrels shipped from Winchester to be installed by gunsmith s had mail order proof above the W/P proof.
An interesting detail that I never knew about. Thanks Pat
Gobblerforge
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Re: Mail order proof barrel

Post by Gobblerforge »

I don't believe they did. The WP was used on completed and tested guns. The factory did use "P" proofed barrels ready for shipping to gunsmiths to be outside fitted to complete some guns and then the WP was added.
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Pat C
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Re: Mail order proof barrel

Post by Pat C »

I'm pretty sure all parts barrels were proofed on test actions I've never seen a Winchester barrel without it after 1905. Anytime you see the plain (P) its always over W/P
Winchester sold lots of parts,you could actually build complete rifles from parts as everthing was available.

The way I've understood is if WRA was shipping a barrel to a known gunsmith ,they stamped the (P) that way if it failed and came in they would know it was installed non factory.
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OldWin
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Re: Mail order proof barrel

Post by OldWin »

Didn't they also do this with factory installed re-barrels?
I've seen "mail order" barrels that had non-standard rollmarks on them also.
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Pat C
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Re: Mail order proof barrel

Post by Pat C »

I was reading an old post by Bert H. From the Winchester Collectors site.He stated that sometime late 30's-40's Winchester started stamping barrels in the Parts dept with both stamps .While possible a late rebarrel they may have pulled one of these for use but was not the norm.

Usually the rebarrel was pulled from new stock,barreled and tested ,then proof marked.
I believe there was a Winchester letter they had ,I tried to read it but was blurry to me.

I've not read any info in the reference books and I have most of them. But what is clear the single P in an oval was used by mail order dept.
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Pat C
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Re: Mail order proof barrel

Post by Pat C »

As a side note it was believed any rifle with this marking would considerably lower value maybe as much as 50%
To collectors.
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