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November 3, 2026
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Only Markings are winchester and .25wcf. Heavy target gun with a drop down bolt. Beautiful wood. Any help with identifying model number is appreciated. 
December 9, 2002
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David,
We can see it’s a Winchester M-1885 Low Wall, from you’re second picture, which looks to have had some nice custom stocked wood added to it. The Octagon barrel that you said shows the caliber being, .25 WCF, should have a Winchester address, on the top barrel flat, if it’s a Winchester barrel. More detailed pics would certainly help out, as would the serial number, behind the set trigger, under the lever on the falling block style rifle, on the lower tang.
Bert Hartman is our Resident expert on these, and he can and will be along to tell us more, with the serial number and better pictures, as his Survey work on these is fantastic, and a great help to all of us collectors. He has access to the factory records, of all of the M-1885 rifles, in the many calibers that were made.
You’re rifle with what we can see looks like someone put together a nice rifle to they’re liking with all the extras on it. That’s not a Winchester forearm on it, but a wider than normal nice piece of Walnut to someone’s custom preferences.
Tony
April 15, 2005
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The model is a “Winchster Single Shot” (a.k.a. Model 1885). Th caliber “25 W.C.F.” is the original designation for the 25-20 Single Shot (S.S.) cartridge. The barrel should be 28-inches long, and it appears to be the heavier No. 2 contour. As mentioned, th forend stock is not factory original, and I highly suspect the same is true for th butt stock. The serial number located on the end of the lower tang will tell me precisely when the rifle was manufactured, and what its orginal configuration was.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 3, 2026
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Bert H. said
The model is a “Winchster Single Shot” (a.k.a. Model 1885). Th caliber “25 W.C.F.” is the original designation for the 25-20 Single Shot (S.S.) cartridge. The barrel should be 28-inches long, and it appears to be the heavier No. 2 contour. As mentioned, th forend stock is not factory original, and I highly suspect the same is true for th butt stock. The serial number located on the end of the lower tang will tell me precisely when the rifle was manufactured, and what its orginal configuration was.
Bert
its faint, but I see it now… says Patient Oct 7th 79, and serial is 51300
April 15, 2005
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Teemdoc said
Bert H. said
The model is a “Winchster Single Shot” (a.k.a. Model 1885). Th caliber “25 W.C.F.” is the original designation for the 25-20 Single Shot (S.S.) cartridge. The barrel should be 28-inches long, and it appears to be the heavier No. 2 contour. As mentioned, th forend stock is not factory original, and I highly suspect the same is true for th butt stock. The serial number located on the end of the lower tang will tell me precisely when the rifle was manufactured, and what its orginal configuration was.
Bert
its faint,but I see it now..says Patient Oct7th 79, and serial is 51300
OK, Single Shot rifle s/n 51300 was indeed a 25-20 Single Shot rifle with a 28-inch No. 2 octagon barrel. It was manufactured in November of 1891, and it had standard stocks on it (crescent butt plate, and ebony tipped forend stock).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 3, 2026
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Bert H. said
Teemdoc said
Bert H. said
The model is a “Winchster Single Shot” (a.k.a. Model 1885). Th caliber “25 W.C.F.” is the original designation for the 25-20 Single Shot (S.S.) cartridge. The barrel should be 28-inches long, and it appears to be the heavier No. 2 contour. As mentioned, th forend stock is not factory original, and I highly suspect the same is true for th butt stock. The serial number located on the end of the lower tang will tell me precisely when the rifle was manufactured, and what its orginal configuration was.
Bert
its faint,but I see it now..says Patient Oct7th 79, and serial is 51300
OK, Single Shot rifle s/n 51300 was indeed a 25-20 Single Shot rifle with a 28-inch No. 2 octagon barrel. It was manufactured in November of 1891, and it had standard stocks on it (crescent butt plate, and ebony tipped forend stock).
Bert
Thank you Bert. I assume the “custom” forend and stock hurt its value?
April 15, 2005
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Teemdoc said
Thank you Bert. I assume the “custom” forend and stock hurt its value?
Yes it does negatively affect the collector value of the rifle. Due to the cartridge it is chambered for, it also has minimal value as a “shooter” grade rifle. The only people who might be interested in it are the small number of us that can reload the 25-20 S.S. cartridge.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
September 13, 2020
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As is regularly the case on this forum, Bert has given you the details you need. What I didn’t see in his reply is that this is NOT the same caliber as what you will find around sometimes that is marked “25-20.” I know Bert knows this, as he schooled me on the difference last year when I bought a “.25 S.S.” It is a fun shooter if you can find ammo or can reload for it, which I now do.
WACA member 11821, NRA Endowment member, OGCA member
particularly interested in John M. Browning-designed Winchester lever-actions
November 3, 2026
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Bert H. said
Teemdoc said
Bert H. said
The model is a “Winchster Single Shot” (a.k.a. Model 1885). Th caliber “25 W.C.F.” is the original designation for the 25-20 Single Shot (S.S.) cartridge. The barrel should be 28-inches long, and it appears to be the heavier No. 2 contour. As mentioned, th forend stock is not factory original, and I highly suspect the same is true for th butt stock. The serial number located on the end of the lower tang will tell me precisely when the rifle was manufactured, and what its orginal configuration was.
Bert
its faint,but I see it now..says Patient Oct7th 79, and serial is 51300
OK, Single Shot rifle s/n 51300 was indeed a 25-20 Single Shot rifle with a 28-inch No. 2 octagon barrel. It was manufactured in November of 1891, and it had standard stocks on it (crescent butt plate, and ebony tipped forend stock).
Bert
Bert: can you show me what the rear site should look like? Apparently the one on this gun is not correct.
April 15, 2005
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Teemdoc said
Bert: can you show me what the rear site should look like? Apparently the one on this gun is not correct.
This is what the original rear sight looked like;
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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