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September 22, 2011
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steve004 said
Speaking of single-shots, I haven’t stopped thinking of that Gunbroker single-shot fancy .38-56 low wall we discussed awhile back (and I believe a member here snagged). Nope. Haven’t stopped thinking about it.
Nope, neither have I! Here’s another one I wanted and bid on, and went well over the pre auction estimate and didn’t even come close to snagging it:
December 14, 2009
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clarence said
Dave K. said
The sole M1885 in my pathetic collection has the mid range vernier, single set trigger and windage adjustable front sight(Globe?) . Being that the barrel was rechambered in ..32 Ideal from .32-40 it has little serious collector value and I have sometimes thought of parting it out. I think it would be worth more as parts but I probably would never do that.Think you are very wrong about its value, unless it’s really in horrible cond. It was common “in the day” to rebore or rechamber guns with damaged bores. .32 Ideal was once recommended for restoring shot out .32-20s & .32 RFs, but the case is shorter than .32-40. Was the brl on yours set back? Since .32 Ideal cases are so hard to find, you could have the bore lined back to .32-40.
If the globe is a Winchester, it’s worth almost as much as the mid-range.
The gun is in excellent condition with most of the blueing on barrel and receiver. The front sight is Winchester ordered with the gun. The #3 weight barrel has been set back about 1/2″ and is marked “O.F.” In the underside so a replacement from Winchester. I have 60 rounds of new .32Ideal brass and a set of RCBS loading dies. The bore is perfect. I am trying to source lead cast bullets. Just a shooter though.
November 19, 2006
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mrcvs said
Nope, neither have I! Here’s another one I wanted and bid on, and went well over the pre auction estimate and didn’t even come close to snagging it:
I had not seen that 50-110. Yes, that is right up my alley as far as desirability. I can see why you didn’t snag it – over $20,000 more than the high auction estimate! Nice piece though. And to think that .38-56 I can’t stop thinking about sold for about $5,000. Of course, that’s one of the reasons I can’t stop thinking about it 🙂
April 15, 2005
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steve004 said
I had not seen that 50-110. Yes, that is right up my alley as far as desirability. I can see why you didn’t snag it – over $20,000 more than the high auction estimate! Nice piece though. And to think that .38-56 I can’t stop thinking about sold for about $5,000. Of course, that’s one of the reasons I can’t stop thinking about it 🙂
The auction estimate was ridiculously low! $6K – $8K was about 50% of what it should have been. The final hammer price of $28K was substantially higher than I expected it to be, but I am happy to see that price, as it makes my 50 Express high-wall more valuable!.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 1, 2013
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Dave K. said The gun is in excellent condition with most of the blueing on barrel and receiver. The front sight is Winchester ordered with the gun. The #3 weight barrel has been set back about 1/2″ and is marked “O.F.” In the underside so a replacement from Winchester. I have 60 rounds of new .32Ideal brass and a set of RCBS loading dies. The bore is perfect. I am trying to source lead cast bullets. Just a shooter though.
A whole lot more than that, I think. Having those lettered sights more than compensates for the OF brl.
January 27, 1992
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I paid $5,700 for a similar piece back in 2014 and thought I got a good deal. Serial number 70027, so a little newer and 35/55 cal.. Bert OK’d the gun for originality in Reno. It letters with the sights.
RDB
November 19, 2006
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Roger –
Very nice rifle. Wonderful condition and sights (that letter 🙂 ) I think you did get a very good deal.
rogertherelic said
I paid $5,700 for a similar piece back in 2014 and thought I got a good deal. Serial number 70027, so a little newer and 35/55 cal.. Bert OK’d the gun for originality in Reno. It letters with the sights.RDB
Nice gun Roger. What is the front sight designation & what dues the letter call it?
April 15, 2005
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Rick,
There is no designation on that front sight. Winchester simply listed it as a “Wind Gauge Globe”. There where a fair number of Single Shot Rifles that letter with that sight. It was the standard sight on all of the International Match Rifles, Special Single Shot Rifles, and the Schuetzen Rifles. It was a special order on all other variations. There are even several dozen of the First variation Winder Muskets that letter with it.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Rick,There is no designation on that front sight. Winchester simply listed it as a “Wind Gauge Globe”. There where a fair number of Single Shot Rifles that letter with that sight. It was the standard sight on all of the International Match Rifles, Special Single Shot Rifles, and the Schuetzen Rifles. It was a special order on all other variations. There are even several dozen of the First variation Winder Muskets that letter with it.
Bert
Thanks for the info Bert. Would like to acquire one of those front sights at some point but I’m sure scare as hens teeth.
April 15, 2005
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RickC said
Thanks for the info Bert. Would like to acquire one of those front sights at some point but I’m sure scare as hens teeth.
They are not actually all that scarce, but they are rather spendy, especially one that has a lot of finish left on it, or one with a complete set is inserts.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 27, 1992
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Answer for Rick C.
The Winchester Letter states:
“Sights: Midrange Vernier and Wind gauge”
“Target 200 yards”
RDB
Very cool Roger. A fine rifle indeed. Thanks for replying.
December 14, 2009
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rogertherelic said
Answer for Rick C.The Winchester Letter states:
“Sights: Midrange Vernier and Wind gauge”
“Target 200 yards”
RDB
That’s what I received for my M1885 also but not the 200 yard notation.
November 1, 2013
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Dave K. said
That’s what I received for my M1885 also.
What could the “200 yds” mean? Fixed sights may be regulated for a given range, but don’t see the relevance for adjustable sights.
April 15, 2005
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clarence said
What could the “200 yds” mean? Fixed sights may be regulated for a given range, but don’t see the relevance for adjustable sights.
It simply means that the rifle was sighted in for 200 yards when it left the factory. Some customers wanted their rifle sighted for a specific distance regardless of the type of sights on the rifle. There are numerous entries in the ledger records for Single Shot rifles where it states “Target 100 yds” or “Target 200 yds”.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 1, 2013
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Bert H. said
It simply means that the rifle was sighted in for 200 yards when it left the factory. Some customers wanted their rifle sighted for a specific distance regardless of the type of sights on the rifle. There are numerous entries in the ledger records for Single Shot rifles where it states “Target 100 yds” or “Target 200 yds”.
Seems strange to me, a customer unwilling or unable to adjust his own sights–esp. for a gun ordered with target sights.
July 17, 2012
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Bert H. said
Rick,There is no designation on that front sight. Winchester simply listed it as a “Wind Gauge Globe”.
Bert
Bert,
Unless I am interpreting it incorrectly, the Winchester factory drawing indicates that front sight is a “Sight #69A” with 2 sizes of apertures.
Best Regards,
Jeff
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
April 15, 2005
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clarence said
Seems strange to me, a customer unwilling or unable to adjust his own sights–esp. for a gun ordered with target sights.
Strange or not, it happened quite frequently. There are also numerous ledger record entries that additionally state “Target sent”, indicating the customer wanted to see the actual target that was used and group size.
The following is the exact entry in the ledger record for Single Shot S/N 108371;
“Focus at 25 yds. Aperature to show ¼ in white around 2 in target at that distance. Target with Peters ammo sent in by customer. Front Telescope Base extra long same as sample“
This attached picture is a copy of the ledger record entry for S/N 107973
Just in case that you are not able to read the ledger entry, it states;
“Target at 50-100-200 yds mark graduations on Rear st in yards“
Also read the ledger entry for S/N 107977…
“Beach Comb Frt St. Ly (Lyman) Comb. Rear with cup disc. (No. 2), Flat top (rear st). To be used on 150 yd range on 3 in Bulls.“
That particular customer apparently wanted the rifle sighted at 150 yards.
S/N 107978… Customer ordered an A5 Telescope with a triangular reticule.
Hopefully you are seeing a pattern here… when it came to the Single Shot Rifles, many customers were very specific about what they wanted!
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
April 15, 2005
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Jef
JWA said
Bert,
Unless I am interpreting it incorrectly, the Winchester factory drawing indicates that front sight is a “Sight #69A” with 2 sizes of apertures.
Best Regards,
Jeff
Jeff,
Winchester did not use that nomenclature for the Wind Gauge Globe sight until well after the Single Shot Rifle had gone out of production. Take note of the fact that several of the Models were lined out on that drawing… because they no longer existed. Additionally, there were more than just (2) apertures that were provided with the sight. I seem to remember that there were at least six (or more).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
