This rifle is one of a group of approximately six Model 1885 Winchester High Wall International Match Target rifles that we are offering in this auction. From the start of the Creedmoor Long Range matches in the 1870s through the present day Camp Perry National Matches, the United States has been a country which has been heavily involved in and fully supported the sport of high power target shooting. These events have been fully supported by many of the major gun companies in the US and this rifle is a beautiful example of just such an effort by the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. and which just happened to coincide with the 1909 Camp Perry National Matches. These rifles were conceived by A.L. Laudensack, a noted High Power rifle shooter and a Winchester engineer during the early 1900s. These International Match rifles can directly trace their origin and designs to A.L. Laudensack. These rifles have certain features that have been found and documented on the few surviving samples and are detailed on pages 164 to 169 of the excellent book "The Winchester Single Shot" by John Campbell. It is noted that approximately 30 but no more than 50 of these rifles were produced, consequently making this grouping of six probably the largest assemblage of these rare rifles and certainly the only chance in the next 95 years to see this many together again. This rifle is accompanied by a Winchester factory letter dated June 1982 that indicates this rifle was shipped out in August 1913 and then was returned to the Winchester factory for repair and subsequently shipped back to the owner in Sept 1919. It is our theory that this second note for repair was when the Original Winchester "Schuetzen" style scroll finger lever was installed. The factory letter notes this rifle as originally being built as an original International Match High wall Target rifle based on the original "Laudensack rifle" pattern. These rifles all had some of the same basic features which are; 1) they are chambered for the NEW 30 caliber rimless cartridge of 1906; 2) each one has a barrel length of approximately 30 inches; 3) they have a distinctive short forend with finger grooves on each side that has an integral palm rest on the underside of the forend with the cork cover on the bottom (remember these were shot off-hand). 4) 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; 5) a 1902 Krag style rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation with either a Winchester wind gauge or Lyman globe front sight; 6) a Winchester close coupled, double set trigger; 7) straight gripped shotgun butt walnut stock with a flat checkered steel buttplate; 8) 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 and which automatically cocks the rifle upon closing the breech. 9) The patented F.F. Burton extractor system (as identified by the large screw head on the left side of the receiver) for the rimless 30-06 cartridge; 10) the Winchester windgauge front sight had the front sight thumb screw cut off and slotted for a screwdriver, and the rifle was targeted at 200 yards and target sent. Each rifle in this group is of the late coil spring design with a fixed barrel assembly (non-takedown). This specific rifle is the fifth earliest of the six rifles we are offering this sale. Two things should be noted on this rifle; one) the cork palm rest appears to be a later black painted version that may have been a replacement, but matches the forend; 2) it was fitted at some time with a Winchester tang rear sight and the front of the comb was notched to accommodate the eye piece. An interesting note was supplied by the consignor on this rifle in that he states this rifle was originally purchased in 1982 in Butte, Montana and the noted reference, indicated that at least 20 of these rifles were originally sold to the "Big Bore" rifle team in Butte, Montana. We did remove the handguard, and the barrel is marked "1906, 4, VP (in oval), F, 3, N.S." Also, the forearm is marked "16" and a previous owner, "H.J. Haskens Nov. 1, 1936" in pencil.

Excellent overall with approximately 95-97% of the original blue finish with wear on the rear of both the top and lower tangs, some on the lever, the edges and high spots of the receiver and the sides of the barrel band. The forend, top cover and buttstock are in excellent condition showing much of the original varnish with a nice color on all three pieces but showing light handling marks and pressure dents in a few places overall with a long scratch and light gouge on the left side of the forend and buttstock.