This is an original Super Grade floor plate from a standard Winchester Model 70 rifle.
Bluing - 99% - The original bluing on this floor plate is dark and even, with no notable edge wear, fading, freckling or scratches. This piece is almost like new. There is one extremely tiny dent at the edge of hinge tab (please see last photo); otherwise, there is no hint of damage.
Metal - The metal on this piece is in perfect condition, with no visible wear.
This is a highly unique floor plate, as it is "mis-stamped" with unevenly sized 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 -- it is an authentic factory-original Super Grade floor plate ... with extra character thrown in.
We use the NRA Modern Gun Condition Standards Grading System for grading part conditions. You can read about it HERE
