Winchester Model 1885 Musket 32″ .40-60 WCF Single Shot Rifle 1889 Antique
SOLD FOR: $2,300.00
LSB# LSB260410GH001
Make: Winchester
Model: 1885 Musket
Serial Number: 30862
Year of Manufacture: 1889 Antique
Caliber: 40-60 WCF
Action Type: Lever Actuated Falling Block Single Shot
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “Manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Co New Haven Conn USA/ 40-60 WCF”.
Barrel Length: 32″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a small blade pinned to a base soldered to the barrel. The rear sight is a Hotchkiss type sliding ladder sight screwed to the barrel. The tension spring is broken on the rear sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is two piece musket style, two bands, capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and semi crescent steel buttplate. The LOP is 13 1/4″ from trigger to buttplate. There is heavy handling wear throughout. There are heavy scratches and compression dents throughout. There are scratches from band removal. There is some oil darkening at the wrist. There is a crack in the wrist, top and bottom. The cleaning rod is missing. Overall this stock is in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original.
Bore Condition: This bore is bright. The rifling is sharp. There is no erosion. There is some stubborn fouling in the grooves. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains virtually none of its original finish. The majority of the metal is worn to a gray patina with corrosion staining. There is shallow pitting throughout. There are scratches and nicks throughout. The screws are tooled but serviceable. The markings are soft but mostly legible. Overall this rifle is Good condition.
Mechanics: The action 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: The Winchester Model 1885 is one of Winchester’s classic single-shot rifle designs, and this 1889 antique example is especially interesting in its musket configuration. Chambered in .40-60 WCF, it features a 32” barrel, lever-actuated falling block action, Hotchkiss-type sliding ladder rear sight, pinned blade front sight, two barrel bands, and musket-style furniture. The top barrel marking remains mostly legible and identifies both Winchester manufacture and the .40-60 WCF chambering, giving this rifle strong late-19th-century Winchester collector appeal.
Conditionally, this rifle shows substantial age and long service. Virtually none of the original blue finish remains, with most of the metal worn to gray patina with corrosion staining, shallow pitting, scratches, and nicks throughout. The screw heads are tooled but serviceable, and the markings are soft but mostly legible. The rear sight’s tension spring is broken, which should be noted by collectors and shooters. The bore is a major strength, remaining bright with sharp rifling, no erosion, and only stubborn fouling in the grooves; in this writer’s opinion, it rates 9/10. Mechanically, the action functions correctly, though the rifle has not been test fired.
The musket-style stock set shows heavy handling wear, scratches, compression dents, band-removal marks, oil darkening at the wrist, and cracks at the wrist on both the top and bottom. The cleaning rod is missing, which affects completeness, but the rifle retains its correct general military-style profile with capped forend, two bands, straight grip, straight comb, and semi-crescent steel buttplate. Overall, this is a Good condition antique Winchester Model 1885 Musket with strong historical character, functional mechanics, and an excellent bore, with the primary deductions coming from finish loss, stock cracking, the broken rear sight spring, and the missing cleaning rod. Please see our photos and good luck on your bids! MF