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April 15, 2005
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For those of you who have already asked, and for those who may have been planning to do so…
The so called “Model 1885 Carbine” listed here – Winchester Model 1885 Low Wall Saddle Ring “Baby” Carbine | Rock Island Auction
is not a legitimate Single Shot saddle ring Carbine. It letters as a standard low-wall Plain Sporting Rifle, 22 WCF, 26-inch No. 1 octagon barrel. The barrel now on it is an altered Model 1894 32 W.S. carbine barrel that has been rebored, rerifled, and the caliber restamped. The receiver frame has been altered to install the SR & stud.
Of further note, the auction description that states “only approximately 1,900 Model 1885 carbines were manufactured, 1,200 with 15 inch barrels and 700 with other length barrels, including 16, 18, or 20 inches.” is grossly erroneous.
I have contacted RIA and am waiting for a call back to discuss this with them.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 9, 2002
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Bert,
Thanks to bringing this to our attention, as I was glancing through some of the RIA, the other night, from reading previous stuff that you’ve educated us on, I felt they were off, without checking, on their erroneous numbers!
Keep us informed! 
Tony
May 5, 2022
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Bert, thanks for the heads up on this rifle. These auction houses need to do more to verify the authenticity of the merchandise they present to the public.
It is very apparent their only motive is Money!
April 15, 2005
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Update:
To RIA’s credit, the auction listing has been corrected.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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Bert H. said
Update:
To RIA’s credit, the auction listing has been corrected.
Bert
Must be you. I’ve tried to get them to change descriptions more than a few times to no avail. I really don’t trust them.
April 15, 2005
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Chuck said
Bert H. said
Update:
To RIA’s credit, the auction listing has been corrected.
Bert
Must be you. I’ve tried to get them to change descriptions more than a few times to no avail. I really don’t trust them.
Chuck,
I believe that RIA is willing to correct any of their listings that are in error, but you need to contact the correct person.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 9, 2002
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Bert H. said
Update:
To RIA’s credit, the auction listing has been corrected.
Bert
Bert,
I’m glad that you were able to get this corrected, with them.
Tony
March 31, 2009
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Bert H. said
Chuck said
Chuck,
I believe that RIA is willing to correct any of their listings that are in error, but you need to contact the correct person.
Bert
I used to call them and have a conversation about the gun I was interested in. They would have it in their hands during the conversation. The discussion would reveal problems with their description but it never got changed. Don’t remember who I got to talk to?
April 15, 2005
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Chuck said
Bert H. said
Chuck said
Chuck,
I believe that RIA is willing to correct any of their listings that are in error, but you need to contact the correct person.
Bert
I used to call them and have a conversation about the gun I was interested in. They would have it in their hands during the conversation. The discussion would reveal problems with their description but it never got changed. Don’t remember who I got to talk to?
In past years, the fellow RIA had on staff evaluating and writing descriptions was not amenable to critiques of his work, and he positively was not willing to listen to outside advice. I found it necessary to go over his head more than once, and as a result, he was adversarial with me for several years. He has since passed on. I believe that RIA now employs a team of evaluators to write the auction descriptions, and at some of them know me by name & reputation.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 9, 2002
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Bert H. said
Chuck said
Bert H. said
Chuck said
Chuck,
I believe that RIA is willing to correct any of their listings that are in error, but you need to contact the correct person.
Bert
I used to call them and have a conversation about the gun I was interested in. They would have it in their hands during the conversation. The discussion would reveal problems with their description but it never got changed. Don’t remember who I got to talk to?
In past years, the fellow RIA had on staff evaluating and writing descriptions was not amenable to critiques of his work, and he positively was not willing to listen to outside advice. I found it necessary to go over his head more than once, and as a result, he was adversarial with me for several years. He has since passed on. I believe that RIA now employs a team of evaluators to write the auction descriptions, and at some of them know me by name & reputation.
Bert,
You are exactly correct in you’re statements here, as the new team at RIA, will at least listen and try to get you to the right person, the owner in most cases, and get things re stated properly. The gentleman that you’re referring to, was a little hard to convince, of his information, as to being inaccurate, or from an older source of reference information, that he was unwilling to change.
Thanks for getting this done.
Tony
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