Winchester Model 1885 High Wall .32-40 32” No. 4 Octagonal MFD 1901 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2,055.00
LSB#: LSB251102CE005
Make: Winchester
Model: 1885 High Wall
Serial Number: 89246
Year of Manufacture: 1901 CR
Caliber: .32-40 W.C.F.
Action Type: Lever Actuated Falling Block Single Shot with close coupled set trigger
Barrel Length: 32” No. 4 Octagonal Barrel
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a U-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel. The tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight, none present.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut. The forend has a Schnabel tip with a triangular ebony inlay. The buttstock has a straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The LOP measures 13 3/8″ from the front of the set trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has taken to a mottled patina with some scattered corrosion. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There is chipped missing wood on the upper right side of the forend. There are spots of oil darkening. There is a heart shaped inlay on the right side of the stock. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition for this age..
Type of Finish: Blued & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original but cold blue has been applied.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is well defined. There is no erosion in the bore. There is a little fouling. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 60% of its current metal finish. The receiver has lost virtually all of its color and worn to a brown patina. Someone has added decorative staking around the screws. The barrel has been scrubbed and swabbed with cold blue. It has brown patina streaking. There is pitting that has been cold blued over. The screwheads show light use with serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action works 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: This Winchester Model 1885 High Wall represents one of John M. Browning’s most enduring single-shot rifle designs, produced during the golden age of American target and sporting rifles. Manufactured in 1901, this example falls squarely within the classic black powder to early smokeless transition period, when the High Wall was prized for its strength, balance, and exceptional accuracy. The High Wall action, with its tall protective receiver walls and lever-actuated falling block, became a favorite among serious marksmen and hunters alike, and remains one of the most respected single-shot actions ever offered by Winchester Repeating Arms.
Chambered in .32-40 W.C.F., this rifle reflects a cartridge long associated with accuracy and Schuetzen-style shooting rather than raw velocity. The .32-40 earned its reputation in both target competition and light hunting, offering mild recoil and excellent consistency when paired with a long, heavy barrel. This rifle’s 32-inch No. 4 octagonal barrel emphasizes deliberate shooting and balance, while the close-coupled set trigger arrangement highlights its precision-oriented intent. Factory iron sights and the provision for a tang sight further underscore its original role as a serious marksman’s rifle rather than a purely utilitarian field arm.
Condition on this example reflects more than a century of use and later alteration. The bore remains bright with well-defined rifling, no erosion, and rates a strong 9 out of 10 in this writer’s opinion. The metal surfaces show extensive wear, with the receiver faded to a brown patina and the barrel exhibiting cold blue application over earlier pitting, resulting in approximately 60 percent of its current finish remaining. Stock wear includes scattered dents, oil darkening, and a chipped area on the forend, but the rifle retains its classic configuration and mechanical integrity. Taken as a whole, this High Wall stands as an evocative, honest example of a turn-of-the-century Winchester single-shot that clearly shows its long working life and enduring appeal among American sporting rifles. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! MF
