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VERY EARLY 1885 HIGHWALL 30” OCTAGON RIFLE IN DESIRABLE .45-70 CALIBER, #5XXX, MADE 1886 Guns International #: 101208479 Seller's Inventory #: Category: Antique Rifles - Single Shot - Winchester Rifles - Model 1885 Seller's Information When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com Seller: goodmanguns Company: William T. Goodman Member Since: 10/16/15 First Name: William Last Name: Goodman State: Montana Zip: 59715 Country: United States Phone: (406) 587-3131 Platinum Seller Number of Active Listings: 68 Total Number of Listings: 4100 Seller: FFL Dealer Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns. Payment Types Accepted: checks, cashiers/bank check, money order Description: VERY EARLY 1885 HIGHWALL 30” OCTAGON RIFLE IN DESIRABLE .45-70 CALIBER, #5XXX, MADE 1886. Nice example with fine aged barrel blue showing most wear to the high edges of the octagon. Has a Lyman tang sight (no extra holes in the tang underneath…I checked) with a typical Winchester small blade front sight and filler in the rear sight dovetail. Fine walnut butt stock that shows some age and weathering. Forend has the original ebony inlay intact and also shows only normal handling with no abuse and tight wood to metal fit overall. I called the Cody Museum where the Winchester records are housed to check the serial number on this one and was surprised when it came back that this number is listed as a “.22 L caliber with #1 weight 24” octagon barrel.” My feeling is that this cannot be for a couple of reasons. The first is that all Highwall and Lowall actions fitted with lightweight #1 barrels had “FLUTED RECEIVER RINGS” so that the sights would be visible with such a thin barrel screwed into such a heavy duty receiver. Also, the wood matches perfectly on butt and forearm with regard to grain and color. A #1 barrel would have a thinner forend that couldn’t have the barrel channel widened to take a #3 weight octagon barrel which this rifle has. My feeling is that the serial number was incorrectly listed in the records- remember, in 1886 there were no electric lights and few people had corrected vision! The only other possibility is that the lower tang where the serial number is located was replaced from another rifle- possible, but not probable.  This rifle came out of here in Montana and still retains a fine+ bore with only minor scattered “frost” that ought to scrub out better. Tight action, aged dark receiver. Nice appearance and a very difficult caliber to find in a Highwall. SOLD Antique: Yes Manufacturer: Winchester Model: 1885 HIGH WALL Serial Number: 5XXX Caliber Info: .45-70 Condition: FINE Barrels: 30" No. 3 OCT.