Custom Winchester 1885 High Wall .32-40 Single Shot Rifle, MFD 1893 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1525
LSB#: 211201KB08
Make: Winchester
Model: 1885 High Wall
Serial Number: 66398
Year of Manufacture: 1893
Caliber: .32-40 Winchester (Ballard)
Action Type: Lever Actuated Falling Block Single Shot
Markings: The bottom tang is marked with the serial number, “66398”. and “PAT. OCT. 7TH 79.”. The installed barrel is not marked. The top of the barrel is marked “-MANUFACTURED BY THE- / -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.-” in front of the rear sight dovetail and at the receiver with “PW” in an oval and “32-40”. The bottom of the barrel is marked twice with “4”.
Barrel Length: 30″, Octagonal #4 profile. The appearance of Winchester proof marks tells us this barrel is a replacement added later.
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a globe sight with a ‘spirit level’. The rear sight is a Vernier peep sight.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut. The forend has a schnabel tip with ebony insert. The buttstock has a straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. There is a large crack on the belly of the buttstock. There are scattered minor compressions and dings, primarily on the left side of the forend. The LOP measures 13 1/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has been refinished and there is pitting from surface oxidation under the finish throughout. This finish is thinning at the ends. Overall, the stocks rate in Good-to-Very Good condition, as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blued.
Finish Originality: Refinished.
Bore Condition: The bore is on the darker side with well-defined rifling. There are clusters of moderate erosion down the length of the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 94% of its current metal finish. Throughout the metal there is light-to-moderate surface oxidation under the finish. Edges of the barrel have intermittent spots of moderate finish loss. Across the receiver, this erosion is moderate-to-heavy. There is minor thinning on the edges of the guard/lever. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings are generally clear. Overall, this rifle rates in Good-to-Very Good condition, as custom Antique.
Mechanics: The action function correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: When they were first manufactured, the John Browning designed Winchester Model 1885 rifles were deemed stronger than the prior Sharps rifles, and the different sight and trigger options available made them an instant hit with hunters and target shooters alike. The Model 1885 rifles were targeted at competitors in “Match Shooting”, a sport which was extremely popular from about 1871 to 1917. The Winchester rifles challenged the Sharps, Remington, Maynard and Ballard rifles, and quickly became known for their reliability and accuracy. Major Ned Roberts, inventor of the .257 Roberts cartridge, described the Model 1885 as “[T]he most reliable, strongest and altogether best single shot rifle ever produced,”. This example features a #4 profile heavy barrel that we’re sure is a later replacement as it features proof marks, which were not standard on Winchester arms until the early 1900s, while the action for this rifle was manufactured in 1893. Wear is present throughout and refinishing has worked to seal over the considerable surface oxidation. All the effort has been worthwhile because, frankly, a rather old rifle has been given new life and does look as good as it possibly can. We do recommend having the crack in the stock filled before further firing! Good luck and happy bidding!