What is the genisis of these marks

[2ballcane]

1917 mark -2..jpg
1917 matk -1..jpg

Both on 1917 - Winchester receiver

[Dan Shapiro]

Look back to some of the earliest government 'acceptance' stamps (we're talking flintlock muskets) and you'll find the eagle head. SOMEONE just decided that an eagle's head would be appropriate. Don't know of any documentation that specifies it (the eagle head).

[chuckindenver]

US acceptance, to 1919

[2ballcane]

Thanks everyone ...... does the "502" have any significance?

[Dan Shapiro]

"502" would indicate "Inspector 502". Now finding the records that indicated names with the numbers would really be something. Unfortunately, they appear to have been lost over time. There are even cartouche initials that we don't have names for.

[Benny]

According to the OFFICIAL Guide to Gunmarks , 3rd. edition, by Robert H. Balderson page 128 shows the eagle's head and says it is a U.S. Springfield Armory inspectors mark.

[Dan Shapiro]

He's in 'slight' error. The eagle head mark also shows up on the barrel of my 1842 Harpers Ferry percussion musket. It also appears on M1917's made by Eddystone, Winchester and Remington. I doubt the stamp was for the exclusive use of SA.

[Emri]

Those stamps were indeed put on at the time of manufacture and were acceptance marks as Chuck stated. The one in front of the trigger guard is the mark for the stock itself and indicates the stock was guaged to be within specifications, the one behind the trigger guard is the final inspectors mark indicating the finished rifle passed inspection.

Other parts will be marked in a similar manner.

The numbers below the eagles head do have signifigance. Eddystone was assigned numbers 1 through 200 ; Remington numbers were 201 through 399; and Winchester was 400 through 600.

HTH,

Emri

[chuckindenver]

this mark is also on 1903,s BAR,s 1917 pistols, and other Martial arms before 1919. iv also seen it on a flare gun as well.

[kragluver]

Some of the inspector names are known. I believe there is a table in Ferris' M1917 book that correlates a few of the known numbers with inspector names.