This is an original Super Grade floor plate from a standard .22 Hornet Winchester Model 70 rifle.
Bluing - The floor plate appears to be refinished, though not in the pre64win shop. The bluing is dark and even, with no fading or edgewear. There are a few light scratches beneath the new bluing.
Metal - The metal on this piece is in excellent condition, with no wear or damage.
This is a highly unique floor plate, as it is "mis-stamped" with oddly spaced, uneven, and overlapping letters. The S is upside down, and the P and A are oversized.
Mis-stamped floor plates first show up on Super Grade rifles around 1940 and appear occasionally through the transition era (1946-1948). Our best guess is that these stamps were applied with a roll die, and some poorly-trained or uncoordinated worker kept slipping up in the marking procedure. Although uncommon, there are enough of them in circulation to know this was not a one-time mistake, nor an ugly attempt at faking an authentic Winchester Super Grade floor plate. This piece has been evaluated by the bolt rifle historian of the Winchester Arms Collector's Association.
We use the NRA Modern Gun Condition Standards Grading System for grading part conditions. You can read about it HERE
