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Does anyone recognize these markings in the buttstock of this Winchester Model 94?
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tionesta1
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October 6, 2025 - 1:00 pm
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A friend of mine purchased this Model 94 carbine in 1966, and has always wondered what the buttstock markings are. I told him I would post it here in case someone recognized them.  The carbine is sn:882355, serial number applied March 05, 1919. He bought it at Bravermann Arms, Wilkinsburg, PA in 1966. It also has a strange front sight hood that I’ve never seen before. Here are pictures of the carbine along with a picture of him with a buck he took with it in 1967.

Thanks,

Al

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1873man
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October 6, 2025 - 1:56 pm
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From what see it looks like S.P.R. or S.P. F. so just guessing here, If its SPR – Southern Pacific Rail Road. The more I look at it I think its SPF.

Bob

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Anthony
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October 6, 2025 - 3:24 pm
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I like what you posted Bob, and I can agree in how you are interpreting the initials, as their a little hard to decipher. I had this from some previous searching history trying to find some related R.R. stuff. It’s kinda long, but informative.

https://movingthefreight.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/sp-freight-train-symbol-history-1957-to-1995-by-john-carr.pdf

A nice and interesting Carbine, Al!

 

Anthony

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tionesta1
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October 6, 2025 - 8:33 pm
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Thanks for the responses guys.  Looks like S.P.F. to me as well.

Al

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steve004
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October 7, 2025 - 5:16 pm
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Tell me about the front sight arrangement. It looks vaguely familiar.

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Anthony
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October 7, 2025 - 5:48 pm
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It would be neat to view that front sight looking down the barrel!

 

Anthony

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Bill Hanzel
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October 7, 2025 - 8:13 pm
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Eh em, is this thing on Al? Maybe a third request for pictures of the sight will do the trick…..

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tionesta1
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October 8, 2025 - 10:41 am
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I’ll need to ask him for pictures of the front sight.

Do you think the stock markings are from a police department?

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Anthony
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October 8, 2025 - 11:45 am
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Al, I think it’s possible. 

The S.P.F.(were guessing at), could be someones initials, but the two marks, underneath in a different direction throw me off, a little. I’m not sure if it’s a ranking, or an association of some kind.

I did notice the condition of the 94 as the wood and barrel are in good condition, and the grey receiver shows wear, with not much finish left, and not a lot of “Halo”, marks from the saddle ring. The front sight shows the most wear, from what I can see in the pictures.

It would be nice if a search would indicate that serial number along with, several others sent some where helping to identify, the marks.

Doing some thinking, or guessing, out loud over here.

 

Anthony

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TXGunNut
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October 8, 2025 - 6:45 pm
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We saw that front sight/barrel band a few weeks (months?) ago on another carbine. It was identified as aftermarket as I recall but not sure if the maker was identified.

 

Mike

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Tom D
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October 9, 2025 - 5:39 am
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The mark could be “State Police Force”.  I have one of a few hundred Trapdoor carbines that were issued in the early 1900s to the Pennsylvania State Police Force.  The buttstock is marked “S.P.F. C 11” in a very similar style font.  The markings stand for State Police Force, Company C, Weapon Number 11.  There is an article about these Pennsylvania State Police Force Trapdoors in the August 2007 issue of Man At Arms.

I can’t post photos here, but if anyone wants to see the mark, I can email a photo to them, and they can post it here.  Contact me through the forum with your email and I’ll send the photo.  Or, below is a link to one that sold on Guns International that has a photo of the SPF mark.

SPRINGFIELD 45-70 TRAP DOOR CARBINE M1873 SPFC19 PA. STATE POLICE FORCE STAR MARKED SERIAL #

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1873man
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October 9, 2025 - 1:36 pm
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Here is the one from GI. I would agree that is the same.

Bob

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