Magnum Man:

I will check my barrel for markings when I get home later today, but assuming you are correct, what was the quality of the barrels back then? I seem to recall Mike Venturino saying that the barrels back then were not as well made as under the current owner.

The seller claimed this was a Sporting Rifle #1 but did not have the box with him (he is sending it to me) and also claimed that it was made after 2000. We'll see.