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INTERESTING WINCHESTER 1885
Guns International #: 101098383 Seller's Inventory #: W2373A
Category: Winchester Rifles - Model 1885 - Winchester Rifles - Antique Single Shot
Seller's Information
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Seller: LeRoy Merz Antique Guns
Company: Merz Antique Guns
Member Since: 10/27/09
First Name: LeRoy
Last Name: Merz
State: Minnesota
Zip: 56538-0494
Country: United States
Phone: (218) 739-3255
Fax: (218) 739-4599
Platinum Seller
Number of Active Listings: 960
Total Number of Listings: 52526
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
3 days
Payment Types Accepted: Money orders, cashier or personal checks
Description:
50 Express, 36" extra length No. 3 part octagon part round barrel. Has a VG bright bore with strong rifling and some scattered light pitting. The barrel and frame retain about 97% original blue and lever shows some trace original case colors but is mostly a mottled gray patina. Walnut pistol grip buttstock and forend are in great condition with nice original varnish and only light scattered handling mars. Sights include a simple bead sporting front sight and a flat-topped sporting rear sight. Interesting factory letter shows it originally had a 30" # 3 weight octagon barrel in 38-55 with no rear seat, mid-range and windgauge sights, checkered pistol grip stock with Swiss cheek piece and was shipped to the New York Expo.
It was received back from the Expo in June of 1895 and looks like it stayed at Winchester for a bit after that, possibly as a sales sample or show piece. In October of 1911 it was sent to the custom shop and changed radically. The factory letter shows it then becoming a .50 Express, 36" part round part octagon No. 3 weight barrel, plain pistol grip stock, sporting sights. It was returned for repair again in March of 1917. Interestingly, the stock and forend have a very attractive, single borderline outline cut, around the periphery of the forend, and around the buttplate and the frame on the buttstock. It is very attractive and precisely done... could it be a factory embellishment? The left side of the tang shows a precise, nearly invisible repair to a chip which could be the reason for the 1917 return and repair order. The lower tang shows the original exhibition stocks assembly nos. “1710 XXX SBC” and the upper tang has the 1911 assembly nos. “10375 CF” which are stamped in the end grain of the butt beneath the buttplate. Quite a 1885 High Wall rifle with a desirable extra-length barrel and large bore caliber!
Leroy Merz Antique Firearms specializes in antique and vintage Winchesters and other fine American firearms. Since 1965 Mr. Merz has taken part in the world of firearms and has been a contributor to many well known reference books. Just recently we mailed the 128th edition of our privately-published catalog. We have hundreds of additional guns in every price range at our home online. Search for Merz Antiques in google.
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes