What is the meaning of an A below the barrel date

[RBruce]

Example:

SA
3-19
A

--TIA

Information

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[RBruce]

I forgot about the flaming bomb below the date

[Mike D]

When a rifle was sent in for overhaul, the existing barrel was stamped with an "A" if it was salvageable.

[Tom Jackson]

Although that is also my understanding of what the "A" means; I have seen a lot of rifles that appear to be in original condition with the "A" stamp on the barrel. zfor example, I have a M1903A1 DCM Sales 'Service Rifle' with DCM sales documents. The rifle is a FY1921 production 1903 Service Rifle that had the "S" stock replaced with a "C" stock and was sold as a: "M1903A1, Service Type, Caliber .30. New." in 1936. The rifle has an "A" stamped on the barrel below the date. The stock has the usual "SA/SPG" final inspection mark and "P" firing proof. Aside from the stock all of the components appear to be original to a 1921 rifle and there is no indication the rifle was overhauled. I suspect, in some cases, the "A" stamp may have meant "inspected" rather than "overhauled". This would be similar to the "OG" stamp found on many new condition M1903-A3 rifles or the "RIA/FK3" stamp found on some new WWII production Winchester Model 70 rifles.

[Chuckindenver]

A acceptable.. AV Avis barrel.