1885 Winchester DOM

riley p

April 26, 2012 08:03

Greetings:

I just bought my first High Wall. SN 123785. Could you provide a date of manufacture? Since this is a fairly high number (I think) would Cody have records on this?

Watch out Bert, I'm on my way and planning to catch up soon...

Thanks,

Riley P

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  Bert H.

  April 26, 2012 08:12

  Hello Riley,
  
  The surviving Winchester factory warehouse ledger records (at the CFM) end at serial number 109999 (July 5th, 1910). The Polishing Room serialization records end at serial number 115308 (May 26th, 1914).
  
  Your Model 1885 was manufactured circa 1918 (my estimate). Most of the Model 1885 Single Shots made after 1914 were .22 rim fire Winder Muskets (2nd and 3rd variation). What is the configuration of your high-wall?
  
  You will need to buy a few dozen more of them to catch up[:0][:D]

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  riley p

  April 26, 2012 08:42

  Hello Bert:
  
  I was hoping you'd be along. A few DOZEN?? Ouch; that makes my wallet hurt!
  
  This is in what I think you'd call a Target configuration. 38-55 with a #3 heavy barrel. It's got the filp front sight with a post and a "post in a ring" and a basic Marbles tang sight adjustable for elevation only. Standard rifle butt plate. The down side is at one time someone put two screw holes in the barrel to mount a scope base I guess. The bore is mint and I bought it for shooting in the local plate matches anyway. Nothing else "special" one way or the other. Thanks for the date estimate.
  Riley P.

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  Bert H.

  April 26, 2012 09:01

  Riley,
  
  A 30" No. 3 barrel was standard for the high-wall. Though it may seem like a "heavy" barrel, it is not.
  
  The front sight sounds like a Lyman No. 5. The holes in the barrel might be factory original, as Winchester equipped a fair number of the later production rifles with scopes. Can you send me some pictures of your high-wall?
  
  Please provide the following information;
  
  1. Barrel length?
  2. Barrel contour (e.g. round, octagon, or 1/2 octagon)?
  3. Trigger type (e.g. plain non-set, single-set, close-coupled set, or Schuetzen double-set)?
  4. Straight grip butt stock or pistol grip?
  5. Plain stocks or deluxe?
  6. Does it have a barrel mounted rear sight?
  
  I just looked in my research survey, and serial number 123786 is a 3rd variation martially marked Winder Musket.

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  riley p

  April 26, 2012 09:36

  Bert:
  
  I'll be pleased to send pictures when I get back; I'm traveling (business) for the next few days. I think I've got your "direct" email at home.
  
  This gun has a 28" barrel, Hmmmm. But the muzzle looks "OK original" and the dovetails looked OK. It does have a Marbles rear sight, on the barrel. The kind that has the stamped metal elevator that lifts under the "ears" of the sight. The barrel is round with a "slight" taper. Straight grip, plain stock; plain non-set trigger. Caliber marking is "on the side" about a half inch in front of the receiver and it says "Winchester Nickle steel" under the rear sight. It's got proof marks.
  
  Frig, I should have known you were going to ask all this for your survey and waited to ask the original post when I was sitting with the thing.
  
  Riley P.

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