High Wall deluxe, cal .25-20 S.S. Mfg 1909. Just ahead of the lever hinge, on the underside of the receiver is a stamping, "77" (or 17).

What is this?

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'09 should be a coil-spring gun, but that looks like a flat-spring lever. Typical Winchester.......... if they had it they used it, regardless of date. I'll check Campbell's book and see if he mentions the '17' stamp anywhere that I can find.

So far, so very good.  I had one person tell me (without actually seeing it), that it was something done after the fact (of original maufacture).

BP's plural, "mine have" was reassuring, in addition to the others that have noted this on their guns.  It is a flat spring gun.  I did not see it mentioned in any references I have, so held it suspect.  That has been alieved, and I'd still like to know what it is (perhaps BP's surmise that it is equivalent to Fruit of the Loom's notorious Inspector Twelve is the answer).

spitpatch,

That two digit marking shows up alot. My flatspring high and low walls all have it except on one very early lowwall. The couple of coilspring walls I have do not have the number.

Also, don't get bothered about having a real late numbered flatspring action. I've got a flatspring highwall 30" #3 barrel in 30 ARMY (Krag) that wears serial # 1115xx (block style numbers and does not have the A suffix), with circle WP proof. There are a lot of late flatspring action rifles out there. 

Enjoy that deluxe Winchester. From what little I can see, it looks like you may have a good one.