Custom Engraved 1885 High Wall 32″ .32-40 Winchester Single Shot Rifle

SOLD FOR: $1,001.00

LSB#: WY241019DB048

Make: Unknown, likely built on a Winchester Receiver

Model: Custom 1885 High Wall

Serial Number: 8946

Year of Manufacture: Unknown, ATF Modern

Caliber: .32-40 Winchester

Action Type: Lever Operated Falling Block Single Shot Rifle with External Hammer & Double Set-Triggers

Barrel Length: 32″, Tapered Round

Sights / Optics: There are no sights installed or included. There is an empty dovetail at the front of the barrel. There are holes drilled and tapped on the barrel with two sight blocks installed. There is at least one additional drilled, tapped and filled hole just in front of the receiver not used for the sight block. The top tang is drilled and tapped for a tang sight (none present)

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with a fancy-checkered forend, semi-pistol grip, straight comb and custom steel bottom-hook buttplate. The bottom of the forend has two holes which may have been used to mount a palm-rest (not present). There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 13 3/8″ and 12 7/8″ from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the buttplate. The plate has some good case color on the hook with most other surfaces a darker color. The heel has deep forging/casting pores and tool marks. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Bright

Finish Originality: It is likely that the finish is original to this rifle’s custom assembly.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some stubborn fouling. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 87% of its metal finish. The balance is mostly in the barrel which has scattered finish wear, nicks, scuffs and scratches. The receiver has comparatively light wear, but there are odd pinpricks in the left receiver flat which were either incorporated into the engraving pattern or were inclusions knocked out by the chisel. There are inclusions on the interior of the receiver next to the breech-block. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition as custom-built.

Mechanics: The rifle will not fire unless the rear trigger is used to set the front trigger. If this is by design, the action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: Something like today’s AR-15, the Browning Single Shot Rifle, which became Winchester’s Model 1885, is endlessly customizable. It can be assembled in a kaleidoscope of chamberings, barrel lengths, barrel weights, stock configurations, and trigger groups. To this day, the platform is still being used to assemble custom rifles. This is one such example with a 32″ barrel chambered for the .32-40 Winchester (née Ballard) cartridge. It has decorative engraving on the receiver including the initials GL on the top tang, a double-set trigger, fancy checkering on the forend and a hooked buttplate on the stock. Whether you fancy this rifle in its current configuration or have some plans for a custom High Wall of your own, this is a classic single-shot design that will add to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud  

Custom Engraved 1885 High Wall 32" .32-40 Winchester Single Shot Rifle
Custom Engraved 1885 High Wall 32″ .32-40 Winchester Single Shot Rifle