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Winchester Barrel Proof Mark

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coyote44 View Drop Down
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    Posted: Apr 30 2021 at 2:16pm
Hi,

I am relatively new to M1 carbines and new to this forum but have spent much time reading and studying the forum information plus other related books. I am currently looking at a Winchester M1 carbine in the 1.2 mil serial number range and wanted to ask, please, should this rifle barrel be proof marked with either a P or WP in an oval? In fact should all Winchester barrels be proof marked? Please let me know.

Thank you,
George (coyote44)


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote kro1970 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr 30 2021 at 10:14pm
It should have an oval PW. Sometimes they are very faint
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jond41403 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr 30 2021 at 11:51pm
if the carbine has a bayonet lug and has been rearsenaled, the proof Mark may be on the barrel underneath the bayonet lug band.hth
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote coyote44 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 01 2021 at 7:10am
Thank you very much Kro and Jond for your replies. I appreciate it. This is a great website with great people and I've learned alot about M1 carbines. I especially like the How To Videos and all the information provided on the rifle parts, etc. Thank you.
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Dan Pinto, Photo Editor

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote New2brass Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 01 2021 at 9:52am
Originally posted by coyote44 coyote44 wrote:

Hi,

 In fact should all Winchester barrels be proof marked? Please let me know.



Most all Winchester barrels on Winchester carbines  would have a W and the WP proof.
Some late Winchester carbines have been observed with just W or the WP proof.

Winchester barrels that were sent to other manufacturers would have a regular proof P in addition to any markings when it left Winchester
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote coyote44 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 01 2021 at 10:24am
Thank you, New2brass. I didn't know if there was ever an instance or a time when Winchester would have sent barrels out in the field that were not proofed. Thank you for yor help.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote New2brass Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 01 2021 at 11:18am
coyotte,
read what I said again!
A barrel that was used in the Govenment-Free Issue Barrel Program had requirements early on that all barrels to be proofed, later it was 100 had to be proofed fro every 1000 shipped.

Once a carbine was completed it was required to be proofed even if it it already had a proof.
Winchester used PW as its proof.  Other prime contractors used just a P or in the case of NPM a punch mark.
So a Winchester barrel that was transferred or part of the GFIBP would have a proof from the prime contractor that used the barrel in addition to any markings Winchester put on the barrel before it left the Winchester factor.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote coyote44 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 01 2021 at 12:27pm
I got it! Thank you.
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