Make: Winchester

Model: 1885 Low Wall

Serial Number: 68694

Year of Manufacture: 1893

Caliber: .32 Long 

Action Type: Lever Actuated Falling Block Single Shot

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “-MANUFACTURED BY THE- / -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.-” in front of the rear sight and at the receiver with “32 LONG”. The bottom tang is marked with the serial number and “PAT. OCT. 7th 79.”. The bottom of the barrel is marked “1” just in front of the forend.

Barrel Length: 26”, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a v-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel. The notch is fine adjustable for elevation. The tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none present. 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut. The forend has a schnabel tip with ebony insert. The buttstock has a straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The LOP measures 13 ¼” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has worn to white with some scattered oxidation and infrequent erosion. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition as refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: Blued & Case Colored

Finish Originality: Refinished Barrel.

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright. The rifling is defined where not interrupted by erosion. There is general erosion throughout. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 5/10. 

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 50% of its current metal finish. Most of the barrel has been treated with cold blue. There are areas where the finish has pooled and collected as well as a few scrapes that have been finished over. The receiver has mostly worn to white and taken a deep mottled and patina with scattered small scabs. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn and shallow, but legible. Overall, this rifle is in Fair - Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a safety notch and is cocked automatically when the action is cycled. The trigger breaks crisply. 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”. This example is chambered for .32 Long with a 26″ #1 octagonal barrel. The rifle is in good shape for its age, mostly refinished with a decent bore and strong mechanics. This Winchester Low Wall will make a nice addition to any collection and could be out plinking or taking small game for another century.