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I won this rifle on GunBroker a few days ago and it’s in my hands now. It’s a “Limited Series Model 1885” made for Davidson’s “in partnership with U.S. Repeating Arms.” It’s a beautiful rifle with nice sights and a trigger tuned by Lee Shaver. I’ve yet to shoot it but have been casting and reloading in anticipation. I have 3 original high and low walls but I’m not sure whether to consider this one a true “Winchester”. I assume it was made in Japan. Bore slugged .367″ and grooves .3765″. Twist is 1:15. Your thoughts on this “Winchester” would be most appreciated.
Well, I guess it doesn’t matter what it is, I just want to shoot the heck out of it and it appears up to the task.
Brian Sindelar said I have 3 original high and low walls but I’m not sure whether to consider this one a true “Winchester”. I assume it was made in Japan.
I would assume the same (or Italy), though even if made for a US distributor, I don’t understand how the “Made in Japan” marking could be legally omitted. Even the very high quality repros made in this country by Meachum & Ballard aren’t “true Winchesters.”
I think the days of buying a “True Winchester” new from the factory are long gone. For some collectors it stopped in the 1930s, and others pre-1964. Even at the most latest venture, I suppose you can argue it stopped in 2006 when they shut down the New Haven factory for good. Seems like hardly nothing is Made in America anymore.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
A “True” Winchester was manufactured before January 1981. Winchester sold the original New Haven factory to the U.S. Repeating Arms Company in early 1981.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
Online
Beautiful rifle. 38-55? Shoot it and enjoy, hope it lives up to your expectations. I’m glad some modern gun makers still recognize and respect a timeless classic.
Mike
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