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January 28, 2016
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This is on an 1892 special order rifle. Half round half octagon, half mag, and shotgun butt. Gun made in 1907. Am I correct that “technically” there were only 3 years of production when both caliber markings and WP proof marks were on top of the barrel?
April 15, 2005
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Mark,
For the Model 1894, it wasn’t even quite 3-years. Winchester began Proof marking the barrels and receiver frame ring in July 1905 and in late 1907, the caliber marking began transitioning to the left side of the barrel. I suspect that the Model 1892 was the same.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 19, 2006
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The interesting and useful information provided on this site just doesn’t stop coming! Thanks Bert!
December 9, 2002
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I’m in agreement with Steve, as the information provided here is another great example of the many years and countless hours that has gone into the Survey’s and research to bring this to light.
Thanks to Bert for educating us, and thanks to Mark for posting this thread. 
Tony
March 20, 2009
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mark minnillo said
This is on an 1892 special order rifle. Half round half octagon, half mag, and shotgun butt. Gun made in 1907. Am I correct that “technically” there were only 3 years of production when both caliber markings and WP proof marks were on top of the barrel?
Hello Mark,
The proof marks began to appear on the top of the barrel along with the caliber stamp during mid 1905 (approximately SN 300000) on the Model 1892 and persisted until the SN 420000 range which corresponds to Feb 1908. Sporadic occurrences continue well into 1909. On many SRC’s the barrel proof was located in front of the rear sight as opposed to adjacent to the caliber stamp.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
April 15, 2005
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twobit said
mark minnillo said
This is on an 1892 special order rifle. Half round half octagon, half mag, and shotgun butt. Gun made in 1907. Am I correct that “technically” there were only 3 years of production when both caliber markings and WP proof marks were on top of the barrel?
Hello Mark,
The proof marks began to appear on the top of the barrel along with the caliber stamp during mid 1905 (approximately SN 300000) on the Model 1892 and persisted until the SN 420000 range which corresponds to Feb 1908. Sporadic occurrences continue well into 1909. On many SRC’s the barrel proof was located in front of the rear sight as opposed to adjacent to the caliber stamp.
Michael
It was the same thing for the Model 1894 SRCs… the barrel proof mark was stamped in front of the rear sight instead of the caliber stamp.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
April 30, 2023
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Bert H. said
It was the same thing for the Model 1894 SRCs… the barrel proof mark was stamped in front of the rear sight instead of the caliber stamp.
Bert
This last pic Bert is good, I wouldn’t have trusted this as a whole if I’d just found this at a show on my own….looks “weird”!
April 15, 2005
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Jeremy P said
Bert H. said
It was the same thing for the Model 1894 SRCs… the barrel proof mark was stamped in front of the rear sight instead of the caliber stamp.
Bert
This last pic Bert is good, I wouldn’t have trusted this as a whole if I’d just found this at a show on my own….looks “weird”!
Interestingly, nearly all of the Model 1894 Carbine barrels with the proof mark stamp in front of the rear sight are also the “August 14” Patent date error barrels that were manufactured in the year 1907.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 20, 2009
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Things are not nearly simple or consistent on the Model 1892 SRC’s. The barrel proof in front of the rear sight is the position for the 32, 38, and 44 WCF configurations. But the 25-20 WCF examples had the caliber stamp designed as a two line style which then apparently left room for the barrel proof to be positioned aft of the rear sight and next to the caliber stamp. And of course because this is Winchester where exceptions tend to be part of the norm there are the weird occurrences of 44 WCF carbines with the barrel proof positioned BELOW the caliber stamp! On the attached portion of my spreadsheet the green fields denote proofs forward of the rear sight. The orange denotes proofs adjacent to the caliber stamp associated with the 25-20 WCF rifles. The grey color are the 44 WCF rifles with the proof stamp below the caliber stamp.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
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