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1885 low wall in 38-40,any information?

eastbank
i just picked up a 1885 low wall in 38-40,serial 21116. it seems to be a common rifle with no special order features(tang sight may have been added). bore is shinny with a few pits.over all it seems to be in good to very good condition. what year was it made and as a good shootable rifle was it worth 800.00? thanks eastbank.
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • TRAP55
    Since Bert is sleeping on the job, about Jan? 1888. If it's not pitted, the receiver is worth $800.
    Got pics?
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  • Bert H.
    Ok, so you caught me napping[|)]

    Model 1885 serial number 21116 went through the Polishing Room in early February 1888, and was received in the warehouse as a completed Plain Sporting Rifle on March 5th, 1888. Unfortunately, it left the factory as a 22 W.C.F., with a 26-inch No. 1 octagon barrel.

    You paid an appropriate price for the rifle if it shoots good.
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  • eastbank
    thats why it has wp proofs on the barrel and reciever then,it was rebarreled. do you think it was returned to the factory to be rebarreled? eastbank.
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  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by eastbank
    thats why it has wp proofs on the barrel and reciever then,it was rebarreled. do you think it was returned to the factory to be rebarreled? eastbank.


    It has no proof marks, as Winchester din not proof mark them at the time. I have a few Winchester rifles that were made before 1900, that have no proof marks. The proof marks were to proof for smokless powder.

    Best
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by eastbank
    thats why it has wp proofs on the barrel and reciever then,it was rebarreled. do you think it was returned to the factory to be rebarreled? eastbank.


    No, I do not believe it was returned to the factory to be rebarreled. The ledger entry does not list a "R&R". That said, if you can provide me with pictures of the address stamp on the barrel, the markings on the bottom of the barrel (under the forend stock and flat spring), and the proof stamps, that might help to solve the mystery.
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  • eastbank
    BERT, the oct barrel is a little longer than 28 inches to the breech face, wp ovel is on the top flat of the barrel about 3/8 inch ahead of the reciever ring, wp ovel is on the left side of the reciever ring(round part),.38 wcf is on the left barrel flat and starts 1/4 inch ahead of the reciever ring. reciever ring is round with a shallow groove in the middle, the barrel writting starts about 6 inches ahead of the reciever ring and ends about 9 1/4 inches ahead of the reciver ring, barrel writting is two line,first line-manufactured by the- , second line -winchester repeating arms co. new havenconn u.s.a- date under barrel is 189,but the dove tail cut for the flat main spring goes thru the last number. on the lower tang pat oct 7th 79 appears, i may have a frankinwinchester, thanks for your help. eastbank.
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  • Bert H.
    The fact that the address and caliber stamp is on the left (10 o'clock) barrel flat tells me that the barrel was made sometime after 1908, but before 1912. The specific text of the address stamp stamp was only used up to circa 1912.

    28-inches was the standard length for the 38 W.C.F., and the barrel was most likely originally intended for a coil-spring action (which would explain why the dovetail cut for the flat-spring tenon was cut through the number on the bottom of the barrel). Frankenchester appears to be the correct term for your old low-wall.
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  • eastbank
    thank you BERT, as i,m set up to load most of the older winchester calibures, i will not hurt this one by shooting it. eastbank.
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  • Bert H.
    You are quite welcome[:)]

    The 38 W.C.F. is a great cartridge, and for the Model 1885 action, it can be loaded a bit stouter the current factory loads. In fact, if you can find reloading data for the old W.H.V. cartridge version, that is what I recommend.
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