What other than WP are the barrel/receiver "proof" stamps on a Winchester Model 12? And an offset barrel WP for a ribbed gun was the factory standard placement. There are literally over a couple hundred thousand examples of the same.
GF1 is correct, but you missed my point. Take a look at the proof stamp and compare it to the roll stamping on barrel. See the berms and sometimes loss of finish on the WPs? Proof stamps were applied late, definitely after metal prep, and sometimes after final finish. You can buy a proof stamp on ebay. They used to sell for about $15. You can then place a WP proof to the side of a rib so to mask a non-original rib. Simmons used to do this. Let me be clear: never rely on correct placement of a WP stamp to validate originality. Lack of a stamp where it should appear is useful, of course.
Another can of worms are the Simmons-marketed M-12s and 42s. Ernie Simmons bought many incomplete in white pre-64 guns from WW, then completed them and sold them at retail as new guns. They were, in fact, new guns. This bit of WW history explains some apparent oddities. That said, the vast majority of Simmons ribs were applied to WW marketed guns, ergo the guns are not in original condition.
