I have an 1886 Deluxe rifle with 1/2 round, 1/2 octagon barrel.  I have taken the forend wood from the gun and at the base of the barrel are some stampings.  One shows the caliber as .45-90.  Just forward of that are 3 initials “A.G.E.”  About 8″ forward of those is a number “428” stamped on the octagon barrel, about 1″ back from the forend hanger attaching the forend to the barrel.  

Does anybody know who or what the initials represent?  

The lower tang of the rifle is stamped with an “X” and the numbers “428”.  The butt stock, under the top tang, is stamped “428”.  I assume the number is an assembly number and that the “X” represents 1x wood.  Strange, as it is really nicely figured feather crotch walnut.  

This gun was shipped in 1892 and returned to the factory in 1899 for a work order, shown in the Cody letter as work order #31972, but Cody has no information on the work order.  Did Winchester ever rebore an existing rifle barrel to a larger caliber upon request?

The barrel also has a “VP” on the octagon flat just forward of the initials, not on the bottom itself, which is slightly dished or scalloped concave.

Trying to get some accurate information about what is original about the gun.  All serial numbers match.  

I can be reached by phone at 616-292-6240.  Any help would be appreciated.  We will have photos of these stampings on our website next Monday at http://www.vfiguns.com.  Just look under “Winchester”.