Winchester 1885 High Wall 28” 32-40 WCF Falling Block Single Shot Rifle C&R

SOLD FOR: $3,718.00

LSB#: LSB251006CF005

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1885 High Wall Falling Block Rifle

Serial Number: NSNV

Year of Manufacture: Circa, 1885 to 1923

Caliber: .32-40 Winchester

Action Type: Lever Operated Falling Block Action Single Shot w/ “Close coupled” double set trigger. 

Markings: The bottom of the tang has the 1879 patent date. 

Barrel Length: 30”

Weight: 9 lbs 3 oz.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed into the barrel.  The rear sight is a buckhorn with elevator dovetailed into the barrel.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a two piece walnut set with a schnabel forend, straight grip, with a steel crescent buttplate. There are scratches and pressure dents throughout. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP is just under 13 1/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall the stock set is in Good condition.         

Type of Finish: Blued, Color Case

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is pronounced. There is some erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 7/10.  

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 70% of its metal finish. There are scratches, dings, and spots of bluing loss.  There are scattered spots of corrosion staining throughout. The color case still has much of its color but is lightly muted. The action has moderate wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall this rifle is in Good condition.     

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety position and the single trigger breaks crisply. 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: The Winchester Model 1885 High Wall is widely regarded as one of the strongest and most refined single-shot rifle actions of the nineteenth century, designed by John Moses Browning and embraced by sportsmen, target shooters, and competitors alike. Introduced in the mid-1880s, the High Wall variant offered additional receiver height and strength, allowing it to safely accommodate a wide range of cartridges and making it a favorite for both hunting and precision shooting. Produced well into the early twentieth century, these rifles became synonymous with accuracy, mechanical elegance, and purposeful simplicity.

Chambered in .32-40 Winchester, this rifle reflects one of the classic target and sporting cartridges of the black powder and early smokeless era. Originally developed for accuracy rather than power, the .32-40 earned an exceptional reputation in Schuetzen competition and deliberate offhand shooting. The long barrel, combined with the falling block action and close-coupled double set trigger arrangement, underscores this rifle’s intended role as a precision instrument, favoring careful shot placement and refined trigger control over rapid fire.

This example retains approximately 70 percent of its original metal finish, with honest wear evident in the form of scratches, small dings, bluing loss, and scattered corrosion staining consistent with age and use. The bore remains bright with pronounced rifling and some erosion present, rating 7 out of 10 in this writer’s opinion. The walnut stocks show pressure dents and handling marks but remain solid with no cracks or chips, presenting in Good condition with a steel crescent buttplate and classic schnabel forend. Color case remains visible though lightly muted, markings are clear, and screw heads are sharp. Mechanically, the action functions correctly with a crisp trigger break. Overall, this Winchester 1885 High Wall stands as a well-preserved and honest example of one of America’s finest single-shot sporting rifles from the golden age of precision shooting. MF