Quote Originally Posted by Promo View Post
This star on the receiver is weird - cannot remember seeing it on a M1917 action. It more reminds me of the Pattern 1914 rifle.
Anyway, the $ 4600 includes the BP. Without the 15% BP this rifle had hammer price at $ 4000. Deducting what they charge the consignor this leaves the seller at $ 3,600 (10%) or $ 3,200 (at 20%; not sure what they currently charge). So it depends whether you are buyer or seller, but still $ 3,200 are a really good price for a seller, but nowhere the market price - at least not in my opinion.
The star mark denotes early production (before Jan. 1918} Winchesters produced before Ordnance approved interchangeability between all 3 manufacturers was obtained. They were held back from issuance to European theater bound troops until approximately March 1918. This is more thoroughly explained in C.S Ferris book of the 1917.
The above auction rifle is unique in that it is a wonderful apparently unissued early Winchester originally from the Brophy collection. I suspect that drove the price premium.