OT Question re: British WWII issue Winchester .22 rifles

As per Skennerton's WWII Contract book, Britain purchased Winchester .22 rifles from the trade and from the US.

I have a few issue Winchester .22 rifles with pre-WWII proofs (ergo taken in from the trade/dealers) with a stamped five digit number added to the left side of the barrel. Winchester .22s of the period are not serial numbered in the US.

I was told that the numbers were added by Winchester prior to export to England as a serial number was required-- probably proofing records. Can anyone confirm this or did the proof house add the numbers?

I don't know about the Winchesters, but London Proof does add a 5-digit number to any firearm submitted without a serial number. Not sure if London has recycled the numbers every time they've got to 99999, since before WW2 - but it wouldn't surprise me if they did.

We have and I have seen other .22" rifles sent over here during the war that don't have serial numbers. Mossbergs being one numberless type.

Attached are photos of the rifle in question showing prewar proofs, post WWII military upgrade addiding PH rear and front sights. I looked at a similar Remington .22 with Post WWII rebuild markings and as it had a factory barrel serial number on the bottom of the barrel in front of the forestock, there was no added number markings added by proof house. Most of the Mossbergs marked US Property have a number added in the US marking. A few of the first did not have the US Property marking. The proof house marking of non serialled guns seems the most logical. .

The one I saw recently also had a broad arrow mark on the butt.

Was out "Squirrelinating" with a Winchester 69A this morning and thought of this thread. Have yet to find any other added marking yet, but will look closer whilst cleaning it this evening.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dd342c71-1.jpg

OT, but this is one darned nice rifle. Missed only one head shot today. Might consider retiring the old M52C!

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...b9cecb4e-1.jpg

The grooved receiver seems to me to be Post WWII, but I really don't know!

M192
1948
shows the OP's rifle was one of the many service arms overhauled by Parker-Hale's P-H Arms Co division around that time.