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Winchester 1885 32 long rifle?

Dave C
I recently fell into a gun collection of various guns. Some cap and ball pistols and rifles, some military rifles, various hand guns including a flint lock.

Anyway, one of these is a Winchester. It has an octagonal barrel, lever action, single shot and looks like a model 1885 LW and has 32 long rifle stamped on the barrel. Problem is I can't seem to find any information on a 1885 32 Long Rifle. Serial Number 25711. Any ideas? Value?

If you would like to see pictures go the gunboards forum, Winchester and Lever Action board. Same subject heading.
If I can figure out posting pictures here, I will.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Dave
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • captkirk3@dslextreme.com
    You need to talk to <BERT H> Moderator on Ask the Experts Forum.. He's our Resident Expert on Winchesters...If you wait awhile He'll be along.....
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  • Dave C
    Here are some pics I
    IMG_0103-vi.jpg
    IMG_0111-vi.jpg
    IMG_0109-vi.jpg
    IMG_0106-vi.jpg
    IMG_0104-vi.jpg
    IMG_0107-vi.jpg

    Thanks for looking,
    Dave
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  • Bert H.
    Hello Dave,

    Your Model 1885 low-wall was received in the warehouse on November 8th, 1888, and shipped on November 14th, 1888.

    It is listed as having a 26-inch, No. 2 size octagon barrel chambered for 32 LONG (the barrel size is stamped on the bottom flat just in front of the forend stock tip).

    The caliber/cartridge you need is "32 LONG" versus "Long Rifle", and it was a very common cartridge for the low-wall rifles. Unfortunately, the 32 Long was obselete by the 1930s, and finding ammo is difficult to say the least. Navy Arms had several batches of it made in recent years, but it too is not easy to find.

    Most low-wall rifles I find in 32 Short and 32 Long are priced in the $900 - $1400 range. The pictures you posted are too dark for me to give you a proper assessment of the rifle. If you are interested, please reshoot your pictures in natural (outdoor) indirect lighting.
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  • joel_black
    Bert,
    Were they all chambered for .32RF as opposed to CF?
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  • Dave C
    Bert and all,

    Thanks for the great information.
    I'll contact CFM and get a factory letter.

    Don't know if I will shoot this. Depends if I can find ammo. If anyone has ideas please pass it along.

    Thanks again,
    Dave C
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  • GuvamintCheese
    Sweet gun. You could buy some brass and reload the .32's. Shoot it!
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  • perry shooter
    I agree with Bert "only a fool would disagree. " He is the expert on these rifles. However it looks to be all original and not MESSED with. A very nice "Fall INTO for you" [^]Try starline and others for brass and load your own .
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  • rufe-snow
    The 32 Long that Burt was alluding to, is a rimfire cartridge thats been obsolete for years. It's the same cartridge that the S & W Civil War revolvers were chambered for.

    The Model 1885 looks to be in great condition, to bad the only ammo available is from cartridge dealers. Makes it way to expensive to shoot.
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  • v35
    Interesting. The Rifle was shipped before Winchester loaded the 32 Long Rifle cartridge.
    The 32 Long was loaded by Winchester in 1873 and the 32 Long Rifle in 1901.
    However the 32 Extra Long was loaded in 1873.
    Given it is an 1888 rifle, I suspect the rifle was rebarreled or rechambered for the later 32 Long Rifle rimfire round.
    Caliber markings should be carefully scrutinized.
    The gun looks to be in collector's condition and be more valuable as such, but as a shooter I'd be tempted to convert it to 32 S&W Long.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by joel_black
    Bert,
    Were they all chambered for .32RF as opposed to CF?


    No, but most of them were. There was a much smaller number of them made in 32 Long centerfire. I am currently working on a complete caliber survey of the Model 1885.
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  • Bert H.
    Just to clarify this topic, the rifle in question was/is factory chambered (and marked) for the 32 LONG rimfire cartridge. It is not a 32 "Long Rifle", or a centerfire.

    Of all the many variations and calibers that were made in the Model 1885, those that were chambered for the 32 SHORT and 32 LONG rimfire cartridges are the most difficult to sell. Collectors are not keen on them (unless they are in 90%+ condition), and they are nearly worthless to the shooter crowd due to the cost of ammo.
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