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1885 Winchester Hi/Lo Wall???

taperloc
I am in need of a serviceable breech block for a 85 Win. low wall .22 rim fire. This is a very early piece (5,XXX ser.#).
I have been told that a hi wall .22 rim fire will fit and function in my low wall.
Is this true?? Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Taperloc
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  • Bert H.
    Hello taperloc...

    What you were told is correct for the vintage of your low-wall. Below is a response that I recently provided to someone (on a different forum board) concerning the interchangeability of parts between a low-wall and high-wall (his question was about swapping the lower tangs, but I went a bit further in detail).

    "This is going to be a bit long-winded, but here goes...

    The lower tang (which is where the serial number is stamped) can be interchanged between SOME, but not all high-walls and low-walls. More specifically, the low-wall frame was made in three distinctly different variations, and the second variation (most common) was not interchangeable with a high-wall frame. The following is a brief description of each variation of the low-wall frame, and the approximate serial number/production timeframe;

    1. First variation - Has milled frame sides much like the vast majority of the high-walls, and the breech block is not scalloped (not contoured to the upper frame). It was essentially a milled down high-wall frame, but was threaded for small shank barrels (98% of them at least... but they could be threaded for a large shank barrel if someone ordered it with a No. 3 barrel). Serial number range is 2250 - 17,500 (early 1886 to late 1887). Because it is simply a milled down high-wall, all of the internal parts are interchangeable.

    2. Second variartion - is a flat-sided frame, with a scalloped breech block (contoured to the upper frame), and it is thinner than the first variation. Serial number range is 16,500 - 120,000 (mid 1887 to 1918). Very few of the internal parts, or the lower tang is interchangeable with a high-wall, and this frame type was threaded for small shank barrels only.

    3. Third variation - Model 87 Winder Muskets only, and they have the same milled sides as the first variation low-wall frame, but with a scalloped breech block. They are threaded for LARGE shank barrels. This third and final variation was simply a high-wall frame that was milled down, and all parts (including the lower tang are interchangeable with a high-wall). Serial range 120,000 - to 139735 (end of production)."

    Hope this helps to answer your question, but if not, please give me a shout.

    Crap... I forget to address your need for a breech block. I don't have a correct breech block, but I will chat with a good friend of mine who may have one.



    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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