I suspect that your Winchester may have been used in Canada...hence the British proof marks? I suspect that your Winchester may have been used in Canada...hence the British proof marks?
They were put on in house, same as Winchester or Remington.
Winchester Proof. The superposed "WP" in an oval indicates that gun was fired with a proof load (150% of normal load), and subsequently passed inspection.
There shouldn't be any official proof marks if it was manufactured in the US. Any marks would be manufacturer's inspection or identification marks and most of these mean nothing after the gun leaves the factory.
ABOUT $400, depending on condition.
Your serial number indicates that your Winchester model 1894 rifle was made in the year 1939.
That is a Winchester proof mark.
Means it was proof tested by Winchester.
These are mostly proofing marks and caliber and barrel length markings. There are books on the market that define Belgian proof marks
Introduced around 1940, Winchester Proof Steel is the alloy used by Winchester to manufacture it's firearms. It replaced nickel steel, used in the early production Winchester 94's to withstand the power of the first 'main stream' smokeless powder rifle cartridge - the .30 WCF, now known as the .30-30. Note, however, that the 94 Winchester was intoduced in .30 WCF a year after the production of blackpowder 94s. Winchester Proof is stronger than nickel steel, and holds blueing better. The nickel in nickel steel made blueing flake off of recievers and barrels of Winchester rifles over long periods of time. Winchester introduced Proof Steel in 1931, and began using it for the Model 94 in April of 1932. "Proof Steel" is a chrome-moly alloy.
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Proofhouse.com