This box for sale with provenance, I found very interesting on member Joe Salters site.

https://shop.joesalter.com/Very-Rare-50-110-Winchester-Chilled-Shot-Ammo-Box-Fired-By-Colorado-Trick-Shooter

Tony

Zebulon said
Tom,  That carbine deserves a piece in the Collector, detailing your quest and alternatives you passed on, etc. Distinguish (and illustrate) the fine points of yours that convinced you this was the one. Tell what you just said about the condition requirements for your collection. Not everybody knows intuitively how to set their personal standards and limits
It is a story hard core collectors can relate to and beginners can learn from. It would really be a service to the membership. 
And you have to get that carbine blooded this Fall. The article needs a cover shot of you, your Downeast hunting garb, a fat spike buck for the table, and the carbine. Your fans expect nothing less. 
  

Bill, I can truly appreciate your advise. I would have one request tho. Once I write such an article, with you knowing my Yankee drivel, would you be willing to proof read it and correct ALL grammatical errors? Maybe I can put at least a rough draft together before December.  

Zebulon said

Chuck said
I love the highwalls and have 2 sharps.  The 1885's were late to the game.
These dates are when a single shot target rifle came out.
Sharps 1874, Remington 1873, Ballard/Marlin 1876, Marlin 1881, Maynard 1873, Peabody/Martini 1875, Whitney 1871, Phoenix/Eli Whitney 1874, Frank Wesson 1870, Bullard 1883/84, Stevens 1886.
  

This thread made me curious about two events: The first design for a commercially produced percussion ignition falling block rifle and the first design for a commercially produced metallic cartridge falling block rifle (including conversions). Worldwide.
Christian Sharps wins the percussion race with his 1848 patent.  Charles Ballard wins in  the metallic cartridge category with his 1861 patent. 
I had thought Alexander Henry or Farquharson might have been first with a metallic cartridge falling block but Henry's was not patented until 1865 and Farquharson's not until 1875.   Neither entered the firearms market until the metallic cartridge Era was underway. 
Unless I've somehow overlooked earlier European or Asian designs, it looks like American inventors schooled the World on falling block rifles. 
  

Target shooting really took off after the center fire cartridges were developed.  In most cases the Europeans were usually ahead of the Americans.  I may have data for the English and German rifles.  I'll have to look.  In 1873 the Irish were the champions. At least in the countries around Britain.  The US team beat them the 2 times they met. 

Chuck said
I love the highwalls and have 2 sharps.  The 1885's were late to the game.
These dates are when a single shot target rifle came out.
Sharps 1874, Remington 1873, Ballard/Marlin 1876, Marlin 1881, Maynard 1873, Peabody/Martini 1875, Whitney 1871, Phoenix/Eli Whitney 1874, Frank Wesson 1870, Bullard 1883/84, Stevens 1886.
  

This thread made me curious about two events: The first design for a commercially produced percussion ignition falling block rifle and the first design for a commercially produced metallic cartridge falling block rifle (including conversions). Worldwide.

Christian Sharps wins the percussion race with his 1848 patent.  Charles Ballard wins in  the metallic cartridge category with his 1861 patent. 

I had thought Alexander Henry or Farquharson might have been first with a metallic cartridge falling block but Henry's was not patented until 1865 and Farquharson's not until 1875.   Neither entered the firearms market until the metallic cartridge Era was underway. 

Unless I've somehow overlooked earlier European or Asian designs, it looks like American inventors schooled the World on falling block rifles. 

Chuck said
I watched that John Wayne movie just a few days ago.
  

Classic!!!

I never tire of it myself, even after several watches!

Tony

North America’s bison herd was pretty much wiped out before 1890. Good thing target shooting was popular! Winchester’s Single Shot all but missed the era of the buffalo rifle.

Mike

I'm in agreement with you Mike.

The Wapiti we're wiped out, and so was the Whiskey! "We go home"!

Tony

Chuck said
I love the highwalls and have 2 sharps.  The 1885's were late to the game.
These dates are when a single shot target rifle came out.
Sharps 1874, Remington 1873, Ballard/Marlin 1876, Marlin 1881, Maynard 1873, Peabody/Martini 1875, Whitney 1871, Phoenix/Eli Whitney 1874, Frank Wesson 1870, Bullard 1883/84, Stevens 1886.
  

North America’s bison herd was pretty much wiped out before 1890. Good thing target shooting was popular! Winchester’s Single Shot all but missed the era of the buffalo rifle. 

Mike

Chuck said
I love the highwalls and have 2 sharps.  The 1885's were late to the game.
These dates are when a single shot target rifle came out.
Sharps 1874, Remington 1873, Ballard/Marlin 1876, Marlin 1881, Maynard 1873, Peabody/Martini 1875, Whitney 1871, Phoenix/Eli Whitney 1874, Frank Wesson 1870, Bullard 1883/84, Stevens 1886.
  

We have the same likes once again!

Great additional info Chuck!

Tony

These dates are when a single shot target rifle came out.

Sharps 1874, Remington 1873, Ballard/Marlin 1876, Marlin 1881, Maynard 1873, Peabody/Martini 1875, Whitney 1871, Phoenix/Eli Whitney 1874, Frank Wesson 1870, Bullard 1883/84, Stevens 1886.

A fine piece as I'm in agreement with the others, like Steve said, it goes well with you're collection, as the missing link.

Bill is also correct as s short story of the hunt, and the picture of the rifle deserves to be in the Collector. 

Tony

steve004 said

Anthony said
Thanks for making us aware Steve!
One has to think and imagine that J.M.B. got most of his design and thinking, in the late 1870's, from his mastermind head, from the Sharps rifle's of the day along with it's falling block action, that we are now familiar with in the Winchester M-1885. 
Looks like another book for the library.
Tony
  

Tony -
As much respect and admiration I have for JMB, he wasn't the only genius firearms inventor and designer to come along.  And surely as you suggest, there would have been influence from others that came before him as well as operating when he was.  
  

Steve,

You're absolutely correct in you're statement. IMO! You've more than demonstrated that in a very good way here and on site's we have shared. Without naming them, there's more than one, it's just that to me and a few others, J.M.B. is one of the more well known and publicized that we're familiar with as you're well aware of. Being that he had the most influence with the History of Winchester, in the early days of well known inventions etc.......He's so known for the M-1885 S.S. rifle, as it was his first patent, without naming the rest. Also as you're aware of, before Oliver Winchester passed in 1880, he made it a well known practice to the ones around him to try to buy out the competition, as he was also successful in doing.

It's just that J.M.B.'s designs in several patents after his first one of the 128 patents, sure helped the development along as far as the Black powder transition to the smokeless powder was concerned. The well known companies of Marlin and Savage sure did their part in contributing to name a couple. Don't know if Winchester ever made them any offers to be bought out and consumed. 

Tony