Make: Winchester

Model: 1885 High Wall

Serial Number: 76433

Year of Manufacture: Serial Number Applied: 10-28-1896. Date in: 10-30-1896, Date Shipped: 10-31-1886

Caliber: .38-55 

Action Type: Lever Actuated Falling Block Single Shot

Barrel Length: 32″ No. 4 Heavy Half Octagonal Barrel

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman Beech No. 5 Combination sight dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a v-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel. The top tang is factory installed with a midrange & wind gauge tang peep sight. 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut. The forend has a Schnabel tip with a triangular ebony inlay. The buttstock has a capped pistol grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. There are some scattered minor compressions, dings, nicks, and scratches. The checkering is strong.The stocks have been lightly refinished and applied with lacquer. The LOP measures 13 1/2″ from the front of the set trigger to the back of the buttplate. There plate has mostly muted and taken to a patina with oxidation throughout and some trace case color around the plate screw. Overall, the stocks are in Fine condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blued & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with well defined to sharp rifling where not interrupted by erosion. There is some light erosion throughout the bore in the grooves and lands. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates about 7 out of 10 for antique.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 40% of its metal finish. The receiver has lost its finish and is dark.The barrel has scattered oxidation and light patina but the finish remains generally strong throughout with finish loss on the leading edges, and at the muzzle. There are some scattered spots of frost. There are some scattered nicks, dings, scuffs, and scratches. There are handling marks. The screwheads show light use. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good to Fine condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action works correctly. The set trigger functions correctly. 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: Included is a Cody Firearms Museum letter with this rifle configuration detailed with 32 inch ½ Octagon #4 weight barrel, plain pistol grip, checkered, midrange & wind sights along with its manufacture date.

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 1896 example is sure to be hot with the collectors as it has a 32″ Heavy No. 4 half-octagonal barrel, factory single set trigger, and checkered stocks with pistol grip. These features all letter in the Cody record. The wood and bore are impressive looking for the age, and this unique configuration will be a great addition to a collection.