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March 4, 2018
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Hi, my name is Neil Entwistle and I have just signed up. I have a model 92 in 38/40 and a model 94 in 32 special, I have just recently purchased a model 1905 in 35sl. I found your site while looking for an explanation of markings on my 1905 barrel underside. There is ” 38 a triangle and .35″ stamped and I was wondering what these mean? Thanks for acceptance and back to my search Neil74
April 15, 2005
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Hello & welcome Neil,
The “.35” is the caliber. The other markings are inspection stamps that occurred during the process of making the barrel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Welcome, Neil!
Mike
March 4, 2018
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Thanks Bert, just making sure the 38 wasn’t a rechambered to .38. Next step is to check bore and chamber just to make certain what bullets I need to order.
July 17, 2012
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Welcome!
The triangle is the “General Inspection” stamp for the barrel.
Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
November 5, 2014
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Hi Neil-
Welcome aboard!!! There is a possible wealth of information stamped under the breech end of the barrel on old Winchesters. I’m attaching one example, an unusual M70 assembled with a 250-3000 SAVAGE barrel made in 1932 (for the M54):
Translation (from muzzle to breech)… C.M.S. (chrome moly steel, a.k.a. Winchester Proof Steel); ‘VP’ in an oval (‘Violent Proof’, a process Winchester abandoned soon after introducing the proof steel barrels so unusual to find on a CMS barrel); 25-3.S. (caliber designation stamp applied after the chamber was cut but before any exposed markings were applied – this is the “.35” on your barrel); triangle ‘I’ (this, as Bert said, is a standard pre-war inspector’s stamp); the “dot” is the mark left by a Rockwell hardness test; ’32’ (the two-digit year of barrel manufacture); index mark (line indicating the bottom of the barrel exactly 90˚ from the extractor cut).
Winchester barrels can (sometimes) have more, and usually less, stuff stamped in this location. Typical marks are the chambering stamp (.35), the triangle “I’ inspection stamp, the barrel date (38) and the index line.
Hope this helps!!!
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
April 15, 2005
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Lou,
In this case, the “38” stamped on the barrel of the subject rifle is not the date it was made. Production of the Model 1905 was discontinued in the early 1920s. The final serial number was applied on October 16th, 1924.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 5, 2014
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Hi Bert-
I’ve got to defer to you on that one… Not my model…
Just trying to provide an intro to the mysteries of the the stuff stamped under Winchester barrels. I’d be even worse if I tried to comment on the stuff stamped onto the tangs of lever guns!!!
What do you think the “38” means?
Cheers,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
April 15, 2005
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Louis Luttrell said
Hi Bert-I’ve got to defer to you on that one… Not my model…
What do you think the “38” means?
Cheers,
Lou
Lou,
The only explanation that I can come up with is that it is just an inspection/inspector marking, but I have no idea what it is specifically for. Ordinarily, I too would have jumped on it being a barrel date marking, but not in this case. All Model 1905 rifles were made with a Nickel Steel barrel. Proof Steel replaced Nickel Steel in the year 1932. I would have expected to find “M.N.S.” stamped on the bottom of the barrel on the subject rifle, but no mention was made of that marking.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 4, 2018
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Thanks all, more questions than answers:) No “M.N.S” on underside of barrel. Stamped on top of barrel along side rear sight is Winchester Proof Steel. Wish I could figure out how to take a good clean photo to put on line but so far all I get is glare and fuzzy pictures. I’ll keep trying Louis Luttrell shows me it is possible but darned if I can figure out how:) Three questions come to mind, first am I in the right place on this site for these questions? Second, Louis what am I doing wrong in not getting a good postable photo? Third, is it possible this barrel was installed at a later time in it’s life (1938?) This rifle fascinates me more every day, I appreciate the wealth of knowledge on this site, so far since finding this 1905 it seems like every question answered opens the door for several new questions to be raised:) Bottom of trigger assembly and side of receiver show a serial # 1139
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