Make: Winchester

Model: US Marked 1885 Low-Wall Winder

Serial Number: 126015

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1919-1923

Caliber: .22 LR

Action Type: Lever Actuated Falling Block Single Shot

Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE / WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. PATENT ED OCTOBER 7th 1879”, and at the rear with “.22SHORT”. The top of the barrel at the rear has an oval “WP” proof. The bottom tang is marked with the serial number “126015” and at the rear with “A”. The top tang is marked “-TRADE MARK- / -WINCHESTER- / -REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. & FGN.-”.also a US ordnance stamp can be observed.

Barrel Length: 28″,round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to a base on the front of the barrel. The right of the receiver is drilled and tapped with a Lyman aperture sight installed, adjustable for windage and elevation. 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut. The buttstock has a straight wrist, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. There is a hole in the belly, with installed sling stud, on the barrel band is provision for a forward sling mount. There are tiny losses in the top-front of the wrist on right side of the tang. There are some light nicks and scratches with a few more notable dings in the left of the buttstock. The LOP measures 13 1/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has minor wear with infrequent minor oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in very good condition 

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with apparent rifling. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9/ 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 50% of its metal finish. The patinad finish is generally strong throughout with a few scattered small marks through the finish. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to shallow and incomplete. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good condition as customized.

Mechanics: The action works correctly. The hammer has a safety notch. The trigger breaks crisply and is fairly light. The lever locks up solidly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: When they were first manufactured, the John Browning designed Winchester Model 1885 rifles were deemed stronger than the prior Sharps rifles, and the different sight and trigger options available made them an instant hit with hunters and target shooters alike. The Model 1885 rifles were targeted at competitors in “Match Shooting”, a sport which was extremely popular from about 1871 to 1917. The Winchester rifles challenged the Sharps, Remington, Maynard and Ballard rifles, and quickly became known for their reliability and accuracy. Major Ned Roberts, inventor of the .257 Roberts cartridge, described the Model 1885 as “the most reliable, strongest and altogether best single shot rifle ever produced”. The design is also endlessly customizable with barrels available in a dizzying array of profiles, lengths, and chamberings.

This example is a Military marked rifle, having a high-wall profile breech block installed in a low-wall profile receiver. It’s 28″round barrel is re-chambered for the .22 LR cartridge. The rifle is equipped with an after-market front sight assembly as well as a Lyman receiver sight. In addition to its sling, the rifle looks great for its age. This ought to still make for a fun shooter, but it could also be the base for a great collection.