This stamp is not unique to the 1885's. You will find a stamp like this in numerous places on Winchester rifles. It was used as an inspection or assembly mark. On some Winchester rifles I have seen as many as three different numerical stamps, all different numbers.
Each individual inspector was assigned a unique number for the purpose of identifying that person. I have also seen the use of alpha characters being used for the same purpose, although much less than the use of a numerical identifier.
It would be interesting to put a name with the number, but I don't know if those records exist.
I hope this helps shed some light on the subject.

Jesse

My Pope barreled hi-wall has a tiny 16 right there behind the forend.

Thanks for the replies gentlemen!
   Frank, Tom, and Jessie, do any of the similarly stamped receivers appear to have been refinished? If we could determine that, then the raised metal around the edges of my stamp could indicate a re-finish inspection and lend credence to the theory that this rifle has a factory applied refinish to the receiver.

The top fore to aft edge of the receiver panel shows the errors I refer to. Just slightly rolled, but the rest of the work shows no other polishing errors. ( the lighting is poor, but it allows me to highlight the mentioned errors)

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This is more information than I have been able to gather in 5 years !!
Thanks,
Tom W.

I have seen the 17 on quite a few highwalls and they were all .22's but others have reported them on other calibers as well.  I have a 92 Winchester with the same style of stamp but it is 26 and off to the right a little, just ahead of the lever.  My first inclination would be an inspectors stamp.
Looking at your rifle and without seeing it firsthand, the color of the reciever has that look that no modern refinisher has ever been able to duplicate.  I would say it is original. Does the tang match up with the receiver where it slides into the receiver?  The two were polished together at the factory and you might be able to see polish marks go across the seam.  What did the tang letter as?  A very nice rifle.  Bob

Bob, Jesse and everyone,
   I am leaning toward the idea of the rifle being returned for work after the 1885s were out of production. I have been trying to post for hours with no sucsess 
   Bob, the trigger bar is questionable. It has the same color and wear as the receiver but it looks to been over sanded at the point it enters the receiver. I had a friend check the records for the serial number on the bar.  He said the records state it was on a plain sporting rifle, plain wood, 26 inch # 1 barrel in .25RF, standard trigger...
   The rifle now has a 28 in. #1 barrel in 25-20 S.S., and the trigger is now the SST.

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The trigger bar appears to have been sanded out of the receiver

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The re-barrel looks to be a very professional job,
which makes me wonder if the rifle was sent back to the factory for a new barrel, change the trigger to set triggers, and refinishing of the receiver (hence, the high metal around the assemblers stamp).
                              
By the way, are my photos too large ?

Thanks,
Tom W.

TDW, Here are a couple coming up for auction that are very similar to yours in condition.  Bob
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Bob, Jesse, and all,
   Well THAT was a real "DUH" moment for me, Bob. The rifle has no oval proof stamp on the receiver, barrel, top or bottom. No "P" stamp or anything to indicate it was barreled out side the factory.

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(Pardon the lousy color in the photo, my shop is in the basement)

I'm having to re-arrange the way I have been looking at this rifle. Old-Win's theory that it is an unmolested original rifle (with the exception of the trigger bar, which has been converted to SST from standard) would explain a LOT about it.

  So...the rifle exhibits:
 
-There is some slight flaking of the bluing on the receiver ring, but other than that it is an easy 85% Winchester factory blue and case colors on the receiver.

-high metal around the assemblers mark on the receiver.

- no buggered screws...anywhere..

-98+% oil/varnish stock finish.

-98% Winchester rust blue on the barrel.

-perfect bore and chamber (I did some cerrosafe casts of the chamber, throat, and an inch from the muzzle). 
 
   The links to the RIA auctions are great (the estimated prices were horrific!!). The receiver close-ups show an almost identical amount of ( what I would call) sanding errors.
 
   The gentleman who sold me the rifle (his grandfathers) had taken it to a gun show and was told it was " an old refinished gun, chambered for ammo you can't buy anymore, and pretty worthless". I never looked at it as a possible original finish gun. I bought it pretty cheap as a shooter, because the bore is perfect, and I have been wanting to try the 25-20 S.S. cartridge for years.

I guess there is no avoiding a trip to Cody now (about 150 m. from me). I wish I knew what the original serial number of the rifle was, but I know THAT is hopeless without something in the factory records.

I already liked the rifle, but the old girl just got a LOT prettier in MY eyes !

What an incredible resource this forum is !!
Thanks,
Tom W.

[quote author=6F5456646C52554F5E49483B0 link=1377044689/13#13 date=1377181239] The rifle has no oval proof stamp on the receiver, barrel, top or bottom. No "P" stamp or anything to indicate it was barreled out side the factory.

Could a gun sold to (or stolen by) an employee leave the factory without Win. proofs?  Not that I've ever heard of such a thing.   

Twice I bid on SS in Rock Island auctions, bidding slightly more than a well-known SS dealer told me would be absolutely TOP retail; guns went for about twice my bids!  After that, I recognized R.I. was way out of my league.

If I could take photos as good as yours, I'd set myself up as a professional photog.

Wow !! Thanks for all the info, gentlemen,
    I'm not sure why I don't have a copy of the Madis book, but I know where to borrow one. I have more reading to do  .  I have Campbell's books and Grant's Single Shot books, but I swear I learn as much or more lurking here !!

    Redsetter, I went to the Colt Collectors Assn. show in Reno some years back. RIA was there with many, many "jaw dropping" firearms (including Gustav Young's famous "tears of Gettysburg" M1861 Colt,  unbelievable !! and two Walker Colts with the same serial number !!). I don't know if their appraisals are high on not, but they were busy selling the whole weekend! Thanks for the compliment on the pics, my old Nikon D200 and I have a lot of miles together.

    So... It would appear there is some pretty good reason to think this could be a pre-1908, original finish rifle, with a replaced trigger bar. I will definitely try to get to Cody with it in the next few weeks, if I can arrange to have some one there to look at it in person. I will make some calls and make the trip, and tell you gentlemen what I find out when I get back. 

   I simply can't thank you all enough, for taking time to share your knowledge and comments with me !!

Think I'll move it to the front of the gun safe !!

Tom W.