If I were a betting man, I'd say there was a chance that that #1 started life as something other than a 338 Federal. I'd guess it was a re-bore, judging from the caliber engraving in what appears to be a mill cut. I could be wrong, but that engraving in the mill cut looks eerily like the engraving I've had done on a few re-bores I've had done.
Exactly. I have a Browning 78 that was re-bored from 22-250 to 250 Savage. The caliber designation is the same.
