This rifle is the highest serial number of the group of six Model 1885 Winchester High Wall International Match Target rifles, however in our opinion this rifle is the rarest of the group for two reasons, the first being that this rifle was ORIGINALLY chambered for "30 Caliber RIMMED" cartridge. ***The cartridge accompanying this rifle is NOT a “30 caliber rimmed cartridge”. It is a military contract round from 1956, originally part of a draw set, and adapted to this rifle.*** The second reason is that this rifle has had the front end of the barrel ported parallel to the bore of the rifle, both of these features were fully documented and described in Vol II of "The Winchester Single Shot rifle on pages 128-130. Obviously this second feature was intended for a very sophisticated test or theory, which had to do with venting the front end of the barrel. It helped to nominalize or reduce the gases that propel the rifle bullet before it leaves the end of the barrel. The idea of reducing that expanding gas was to reduce or minimize the vortex that is always found behind a bullet as it exits the barrel, which in theory can contribute to the degradation of the accuracy of the bullet by pushing the bullet one way or another as the expanding gas is moving faster than the bullet. This concept or theory has been written up as recently as a year or two ago in several competition shooting magazines, so obviously there was some thought about this concept much earlier in the 20th Century. In looking at the machining that was performed on the rifle, it's our opinion that is was probably done by an extremely skillful and knowledgeable machinist and or directly by the Winchester factory. When you look inside the barrel, this porting was accomplished by drilling three holes perpendicular to the bore (from the outside of the barrel) down, directly through the center of the grooves of the rifling (which requires indexing of each hole to follow the twist of the rifling) about 3/4 to 1 Inch from the end of the barrel. Then six even spaced holes were drilled from the front of the muzzle running parallel to the bore to intersect with the other holes. The holes on the outside of the barrel were then plugged and ground off flush with the barrel, which gives a slightly smaller outside diameter. These International Match rifles were conceived by A.L. Laudensack, a noted high power rifle shooter and a Winchester engineer during the early 1900s. Because of the sophisticated nature of the machining of this rifle and the position of A.L.Laudensack, it could even be theorized that Laudensack oversaw this actual work on this rifle because of his position within the company. It is noted that approximately 30 but no more than 50 of these rifles were produced in TOTAL, and this is the ONLY example with these modifications, consequently making this a very RARE rifle. This rifle is accompanied by a Winchester factory letter dated January 1999, which indicates that originally it conformed to the original Laudensack rifle and was shipped out in August 1914. It states that it was originally built as an original International Match High Wall Target rifle with the correct 30 Rim in 1906 Caliber, 30 inch, #3 round barrel, nickel steel action, shotgun butt, set trigger. The letter also says it has the same style cork forend as found on the "Laudensack rifle" old style hammer fly, with front sight thumb screw to be cut off and slotted for a screw driver, targeted at 200 yards and target sent. This specific rifle has the highest serial number of the six rifles we are offering for sale. These rifles had some basic features found on each, here are some of those features; 1) each one has a barrel length of approximately 30 inches; 2) a top cover or hand guard that covers the barrel from the barrel band to the receiver ring, with the metal clips on the underside; 3) a Globe Target front sight; 4) a Winchester close-coupled, double set trigger, 5) straight gripped butt walnut stock, this one has a Winder Musket style steel buttplate 6) the unique hammer Interlock feature which prevents the rifle from being cocked unless the interlock mechanism is depressed and the hammer placed at half-cock. Each rifle in this group is of the late coil spring design with a fixed barrel assembly (non-takedown). Some of the rifle also exhibit unique features or changes based on the personal likes of each shooter. Currently this rifle has had the Laudensack forend with the palm rest replaced with a later Winder pattern forend and buttstock. The front barrel band is a modified version that has an enlarged ring on the top portion which has had a piece of leather installed underneath (kind of like a primitive barrel bedding concept), and the top cover was removed (a very similar replacement is included with this rifle) . As noted previously, a globe front sight and a Lyman Tang rear sight have been installed. Since this rifle has the top cover removed the barrel markings are visible; the standard Winchester two line address and patent markings further forward on the barrel, and with the Winchester "Nickel Steel" barrel markings in front of the receiver on the left side. The top of the barrel is marked "30 US", and directly below that on the left side it is marked ".30 US MOD 1906", similar to what is noted in the referenced book. It has also been drilled and tapped for a set of scope blocks that are included with the rifle, the spacing is 7.25 inches center to center. Also as noted, it is accompanied with the ONLY KNOWN "30 Caliber Rimmed Cartridge which has a headstamp of "W.R.A. 56/5/6" indicating manufacture in May, 1906.

Partially modified overall with approximately 90% of the original blue finish remaining with wear on the upper and lower tangs, the loading lever, the top of the receiver, along with the edges and high spots overall. The barrel retains 95% of the blue finish except the front portion of the muzzle with the plugs were ground off. The stock is in very good condition showing a nice color overall with some minor handling marks and pressure dents and dings from field use. The right rear top edge of the forend has a 2 1/2 inch section of the wood missing that could be easily repaired. The breech lock-up on this rifle is very tight, obviously intended to ensure a good seal at the rear of the barrel when using the "30 Rimmed Cartridge" A super rare and "One of A Kind" International Match rifle.