Make: Winchester

Model: 1885 High Wall Schuetzen

Serial Number: 95472

Year of Manufacture: 1907

Caliber: .40-65 Winchester Centerfire

Action Type: Single Shot Falling Block Rifle

Barrel Length: 30” Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade set between a dovetailed base. The rear sight is a u-notch buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel. The top of the barrel has a pair of drilled, tapped, and filled holes in front of the rear sight, and another pair behind the rear sight. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none present). The tapped holes on the barrel have removed some of the markings. 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered “Black Diamond” Deluxe walnut with a capped pistol grip, straight comb, Dutch cheekpiece, and Helm Cast Aluminum buttplate.There are some scattered nicks, dings, scratches, and compressions. The checkering is strong. The LOP measures 13 1/8” from the front of the trigger to the rear of the buttplate. The rear of the buttstock under the buttplate has been carved to fit the Schuetzen style buttplate. The grip cap is ill-fit. The stock rates in about Very Good condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There are a couple small areas of erosion. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of its current metal finish. The balance of the finish is strong and complete throughout with only a few spots on the receiver and lever that shows minor pitting underneath the new finish. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. There are a few dents in the lower tang (a result of bending the tang to fit the curve of the new stock. Overall, this rifle rates in about Excellent condition. 

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is light and crisp. We did not fire this handgun. As with all 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”.

This example is a nice attempt at creating a desirable “Schuetzen” style rifle. The cast aluminum buttplate and the dents in the bottom tang are a dead giveaway that this rifle is not original. That said, the stocks are beautiful and the refinished blue is gorgeous. For a rifle about 120 years old, it retains impressive mechanics. Even the bore is impressive. This will be a great addition to a collection or a great rifle to capture the glory of old Match Grade Shooting.