Winchester 1885 High Wall .32-40 No.3 25 ¾” Octagonal Set Trigger 1905 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2,230.00
LSB#: LSB250824LT011
Make: Winchester
Model: 1885 High Wall
Serial Number: 102025
Year of Manufacture: 1905 / C&R
Caliber: .32-40
Action Type: Lever Actuated Falling Block Single Shot
Barrel Length: 25 3/4″ No.3 Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The font sight is a hooded adjustable globe sight with open top, dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight dovetail has been filled with a blank. There are two male dovetails screwed to the barrel. The tang is mounted with a tang sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with checkered beavertail forend, checkered pistol grip with buffalo horn cap, fluted straight comb with cheek piece and checkered Winchester hard rubber buttplate.There are some scattered minor compressions, dings, nicks, and scratches. The checkering is strong. There is a filled hole on the left side of the forend. The buttstock has some between the stock and the tangsThe LOP measures 14 ¼” from the front of the set trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9.5/10. The bore has been resleeved.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish is generally strong with some thinning on the leading edges. There are some scattered nicks that have been blued over. There are some scattered spots of frost. There are some scattered nicks, dings, scuffs, and scratches. There are handling marks. The screwheads show light use. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good to Fine condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action works correctly. The set trigger functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: By the early 20th century, Winchester’s 1885 High Wall had firmly established itself as one of the premier single-shot rifles in America—strong, accurate, and adaptable to the precision-oriented cartridges of the period. This 1905 example sits at the tail end of original High Wall production and reflects the tastes of dedicated target shooters of its era, built with a No. 3 octagon barrel, set trigger, and a suite of upgraded sights including a hooded globe front and tang-mounted rear. The checkered walnut stock set—with its beavertail forend, fluted comb with cheek piece, buffalo horn grip cap, and Winchester hard rubber buttplate—marks this as a rifle configured for deliberate accuracy, stability, and comfort during extended bench or offhand shooting.
Chambered in .32-40, a cartridge introduced in the 1880s and quickly adopted as a premier target round, the rifle benefits from the round’s soft recoil, excellent inherent accuracy, and long association with Schuetzen and match shooting traditions. The bright resleeved bore, rating 9.5/10, underscores that this rifle was maintained or restored with precision shooting in mind. While the metal has been refinished and shows scattered marks and light frosting, the rifle retains strong mechanics, clear markings, and a high level of overall sharpness for a 1905-produced High Wall. Combined with its refined stock architecture and functioning set trigger, this rifle represents both the craftsmanship of Winchester’s single-shot line and the competitive spirit of early 20th-century American marksmanship. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! – L.S.
