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LOT 3042 Antique Winchester Deluxe Model 1885 High Wall Schuetzen Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 3953, 38-55 cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, highly figured checkered walnut stock. The accompanying factory letter confirms the 30 inch octagon barrel in .38-55 caliber, mid-range Vernier and wind gauge sights, check piece and Swiss buttplate. The rifle was received in the warehouse on August 17, 1886 and shipped on August 16, 1886 (likely a factory recording error). The letter also lists a March 27, 1914 return and repair date. The top flat to the no. 3 barrel is stamped with the two-line legend ahead of the elevation adjustable rear sight and “CAL. 38-55” at the breech. The lower tang has the patent date marking and serial number. The receiver is equipped with a set trigger. The checkered forearm and pistol grip stock are “XXX” deluxe walnut. The left side of the lower tang is marked “43 XXX 1135 SBC.” The assembly number “1135” is repeated on the stock inlet. CONDITION: Very good. The barrel retains streaks of bright original blue finish with the balance a smooth brown patina mixed with light spotting. The receiver retains a few patches of original case colors and has some light pitting mostly on the left side. The wood is also very good with a short hairline stress crack at the upper tang, numerous handling marks, and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 4,000 - 5,500
LOT 3043 Antique Winchester Deluxe Model 1885 High Wall Schuetzen Rifle - Serial no. 33328, 40 Express cal., 30 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, checkered walnut stock. The accompanying Winchester Gun Museum letter (copy) addressed to noted collector and dealer Lewis Yearout lists this rifle with 30 inch octagon barrel in .38-55 caliber with no rear seat (currently replacement no.3 round barrel in .40 Express with three leaf rear sight), plain trigger (currently a set trigger), and checkered pistol
grip stock with German silver name plate and Swiss cheekpiece when shipped on April 24, 1889. A copy of the Winchester ledger
for this rifle is also included. The rifle is fitted with a combination Beach front sight, three leaf rear sight and Vernier tang sight. The barrel is
stamped with the two-line address ahead of the rear sight and “40 EX” at the breech. The lower tang has the patent date and the serial number. The forearm and pistol grip stock are deluxe “XXX” walnut and feature a cheekpiece, blank German silver oval inlay on the right side of the
buttstock and Swiss buttplate. The left side of the lower tang is marked “2580 XXX SBC.” The assembly number “2580” is also on the stock let, and buttplate, and the partial assembly number “580” is on both buttplate screws.
CONDITION: Fine. The replacement barrel retains 60% refinished blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. A few areas of original cased colors remain on the receiver
and lever. 70% original nickel remains on the brass buttplate. The wood is also fine with a hairline stress crack at the upper tang, minor dings and scratches and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Model 1885s are rarely encountered in .40 Express. Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 3044
Antique India Retailer Marked Winchester Model 1885 High Wall Thick Side Single Shot Rifle in Extremely Scarce Documented .45 Express - Serial no. 11024, 45-125 cal., 30 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This early production Model 1885 High Wall Flat/Thick Side rifle was manufactured in 1887 and is chambered for the .45-125 Winchester
(.45 Express) cartridge which was the longest cartridge available for the Model 1885 and was designed specifically for this model but only available for a few years given it was not a significant improvement over the .45-90. The no. 3 barrel is fitted with blade front sight and elevation adjustable rear sight and
is marked with the two-line address ahead of the rear sight. The right side of the barrel is engraved “Winchester 45-125 Cartridge.” The left side of the barrel is engraved “Made expressly for Oakes & Co.
Madras.” Messrs, Oakes & Co. was one of the largest department stores in India, known for having the largest stock of general goods at any given time. The buttstock features a shotgun buttplate. Included Cody Firearms Museum serial number verification confirms the no. 3 round barrel in .45 Express, plain trigger, shotgun buttplate and Madras, Oakes & Co. engraved retailer marking. The rifle was received in the warehouse on February 10, 1888 and shipped on March 29, 1888. Per information provided by the consignor, an estimated total of 689 Model 1885 rifles were chambered in .45-125 express caliber. Today, very few of these Model 1885 express rifles are encountered. CONDITION: Good as a well used big game express rifle made exclusively for an Indian retailer. An area of faded original blue finish remains on the barrel around and under the forearm; otherwise, the rifle has a mottled brown patina. The original wood is fair with numerous scattered dings and scratches, small chip at the upper tang and some hairline stress cracks. Mechanically excellent. A scarce, antique Indian retailer marked Winchester Model 1885 express rifle showing great characteristics of an authentic big game rifle. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500 LOT 3045 Winchester Model 1885 Single Shot High Wall Rifle in 32-40 WCF - Serial no. 97455, 32-40 cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This is an unaltered Winchester Model 1885 High Wall plain sporting rifle in the popular 32-40 WCF cartridge manufactured circa late 1911. This rifle is fitted with a standard 30 inch, full octagon, #3 weight barrel that is chambered in 32-40 WCF cartridge. It has the Winchester commercial blued metal finish, case colored loading lever, and the low lustre Winchester factory wood varnish. The top of the barrel has the standard two line factory markings of “MANUFACTURED BY THE/WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A.”, followed by the caliber markings: “32-40 WCF” in front of the receiver ring. The barrel is fitted with a Winchester blade front sight with the Winchester sporting buckhorn rear sight with the fine-tune, adjustable elevation insert. The top rear tang has been fitted with a tang mounted target sight. The sight has the coarse knurled staff with the folding peep sight. The base of the sight is marked: “PAT.JAN. 29.79.-MAY.6.84”. It has the standard trigger and loading lever, and it is fitted with a straight grip plain walnut stock and matching straight grain walnut forend with the small Winchester ebony insert in the tip. The buttstock is fitted with a blued crescent buttplate. CONDITION: Very fine with 85% plus of the original blue finish overall, with edge and high spot wear. The markings are clear and sharp. The refinished walnut stock and forend are both in fine condition. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,750
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