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This is my first post on this forum, so I am looking forward to the erudite and scholarly responses. The photos following are of a Winchester Model 1903 that was in England at some point, and more specifically, in the A. G. Parker facility. It has been re-chambered to .22LR using a liner and is marked on the muzzle “PARKERIFLED.” It has also been equipped with a Parker, Hale Targetscope. My question, however, pertains to the Winchester markings on the receiver. It has the circled/ovaled “WP,” but also the oval “P,” which I understand to signify a replacement part. I have seen it used mostly on replacement barrels, but never on the receiver itself. Any ideas why Winchester would put a replacement part stamp on the receiver?
Thanks for any suggestions or comments.
Gary
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To speak the obvious that proof mark is commonly accepted to mean it is an outside fitted replacement receiver! I seriously doubt Winchester would send out a new receiver to a gunsmith! Only if Winchester had an authorized gun repair depot in England.
My take is that when both the Winchester PW and the oval mark are both present it means that it is a replacement part that was fitted at the factory and the whole gun was reproof tested. So the serial numbers in this case would likely look different than the normal assembly line.
I have never heard of such a conversion before. Is it common?
It is not uncommon to find target rifles that were modified by A. G. Parker during the 20’s and 30’s. Generally they were bolt action rifles, so a Model 1903 is quite unusual. Somebody spent a lot of money on this one as is also has a custom stock that looks like a factory Winchester stock, except for the pistol grip and the English Walnut. The Parker Hale Targetscope was also a high-end 8X scope for target shooting. An overkill for a .22? A. G. Parker had a patented method of relining and rifling the barrel – i.e., "PARKERIFLED."
Gary
I know where there is an 1892 in the 160,XXX range I believe. It has a Model 65 marked .218 Bee barrel. The barrel doesn’t have the proof marks but the receiver has the double proofs like the above gun. I’ll try and go by to see it again.
I was not sufficiently clear with my question.
I have seen a great many lined barrels.
But I have never heard of a Model 1903 being converted to .22 Long Rifle. I did not know that it would work, given the differences in cartridge length. That makes me wonder what kind of ammunition the chap shot, given the target scope.
Does anyone know when this conversion work was done?
This article might explain how a M03 got to the UK:
http://www.rifleman.org.uk/Winchester_Auto_and_Winder_%20rifles.htm#Winchester_1903_SA
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