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  • Auction Catalog #75
  • Lot #48
Lot #47
Lot #49

Lot 48: Second Year Winchester Model 1885 Special Sporting High Wall

Rare and Exceptional Second Year Winchester Model 1885 Special Sporting High Wall Rifle with Factory Letter

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: November 30, 2018

Lot 48: Second Year Winchester Model 1885 Special Sporting High Wall

Rare and Exceptional Second Year Winchester Model 1885 Special Sporting High Wall Rifle with Factory Letter

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: November 30, 2018

Estimated Price: $14,000 - $20,000
Price Realized:
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Rare and Exceptional Second Year Winchester Model 1885 Special Sporting High Wall Rifle with Factory Letter

Manufacturer: Winchester
Model: 1885-Rifle
Type: Rifle
Gauge: 38 WCF
Barrel: 28 inch octagon
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grip:
Stock: highly figured checkered
Item Views: 3682
Item Interest: Average
Serial Number:
Catalog Page: 44
Class: Antique
Description:

This example was manufactured in 1886, the second year of production, with special order deluxe checkered walnut stock and forearm, front sight and extremely rare casehardened frame, lever and buttplate. Heavy #1 octagon barrel with a dovetailed folding globe front sight, adjustable sporting rear sight and tang mounted mid-range Vernier peep sight. The top of the barrel is marked "-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.-" ahead of the rear sight and "38 CAL W.C.F." at the breech. The bottom flat under the forearm is marked with a "125", "WCF", "VP" in an oval under the spring and "1" and "9" ahead of the spring. The serial number is marked on the lower tang, and "-PAT OCT. 7TH 79-" is marked just behind the trigger. The barrel is blue with casehardened remaining parts. Deluxe high gloss walnut checkered Schnabel forearm with ebony tip inlay and checkered pistol grip stock with an ebony insert and casehardened crescent buttplate. The accompanying factory letter confirms the rifles configuration, that it had Beach and Lyman sights, weighed 8 3/4 pounds and that it was shipped from the warehouse on March 11, 1886.

Rating Definition:

Excellent plus. The barrel retains 95% of the slightly thinning original blue finish. The receiver, lever and buttplate retain almost all of the original vivid case colors beginning to fade slightly. The stock and forearm are both excellent with some minor light scratches and minor handling marks. The checkering is sharp. The markings are crisp and clear. Mechanically excellent. An exceptionally nice, special order, very early High Wall rifle with the seldom encountered flattop early receiver.



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