Winchester 1885 Single Shot — Falling Block Rifle .38-56 W.C.F. Antique – 1888

SOLD FOR: $1,252
Make: Winchester
Model: 1885
Serial Number: 23563
Year of Manufacture: 1888
Caliber: .38-56 W.C.F. (Winchester Center Fire)
Action Type: Single Shot, Falling Block, Lever Actuated
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “ Manufactured By The / Winchester Repeating Arms Co. New Haven, Conn. U.S.A. “, and “38-56 W.C.F.”. The lower tang is marked “Pat. Oct. 7th 79.”, and “23563”. The bottom of the barrel is marked “ 3”.
Barrel Length: Approx. 23 ¾” . This is a heavy barrel No. 3 that measures approx. 15/16” across the flats. This barrel has likely been cut.
Sights / Optics: This rifle is mounted with a front blade in a dovetail, and a rear elevator leaf sight also in a dovetail. The elevator is present.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are smooth wood. The forend has a long crack on the underside between the screw and the receiver and what looks like a second small crack about ½” over, and another crack on the left side at the tip. There are small nicks and tiny chips missing at the screw, and gouges with small amounts of wood missing in several other places. There are compression marks as well, with a rectangular depression in the middle of the left side of the forend. Please see our photos. The buttstock shows small chips missing which look like they were filled on the top and bottom of the stock at the receiver. The stock was cleaned at some point and re-oiled. The crescent rifle buttplate does NOT fit the stock perfectly. Perhaps this stock has been replaced? There are no visible cracks or losses in the buttstock. The LOP measures approx. 13 ¼” from the trigger to the middle of the steel buttplate. The stocks rate in about Fair-Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is dull and the rifling is shallow with scattered pitting and erosion.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 25% of its metal finish all of which is found on the barrel flats. The receiver, tangs, and lever have turned gray with patina. The balance of the finish shows tool marks and surface erosion with light pitting on both sides and the top of the receiver. There is cleaned pitting on the bottom of the lever and falling block. There are several places along the top of the barrel at the receiver and just ahead of the forend where the edges are quite rounded, perhaps from a vice? . The top edge of the muzzle crown has some metal dings probably from being dropped and shortened. There are numerous shallow dings on the receiver, barrel and tangs that we cannot explain. The entire barrel on all surfaces is covered with light surface erosion. The Screw heads are serviceable and show minor use. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fair-Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly and the lock-up is tight. The trigger pull is light. We did not fire this rifle.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: This is a very cool rifle. Here is a classic antique heavy barreled Winchester 1885 rifle in firing condition, just waiting to be re-bored into .38-40, .44-40, .45-70 or whatever. Remember once an antique always an antique. Here is a collectable Winchester and a project rifle all rolled into one.