1885 Calibers ?|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

Dale Taylor said
Concerning the 1885 Winchester, does it state anywhere how many of each caliber were made ? As how many 32-40’s, 45-70’s, 40-65’s, etc. My eyesight is literally bad but could not find anything in Campbell’s books. Are any such numbers to be found ? Did Winchester keep records of how many were made in each caliber ? Thanks, Dale.  

Question 1; No, not yet.

Question 2; Yes, but not in Campbell’s books… I conducted a caliber survey of the Model 1885 a few years ago (it took me more than 10-years to complete it).

Question 3; No, Winchester did not keep specific records of the caliber production totals. They did record in the warehouse ledger records the specific cartridge/caliber of each serial number that was recorded.  The records are for the most part complete for serial numbers 1 – 109999. For serial numbers 110000 – 140000, I am conducting a separate survey to document as many of them as I can find.  Thus far, I have surveyed 1,793 of them (nearly 6%).  I will add them to my caliber survey at a later date.

I have posted the results of my caliber survey of the Model 1885 records here on the WACA forum several times in the past few years, but will post it again.  In total, there were (91) different cartridges that Winchester chambered the Model 1885 for.  The top 30 cartridges account for 106,299 (96.6%) of the 109,999 recorded in the ledger records.

M said
Hi Bert and contributors:  I have an 1885 High Wall chambered in 32WS.  I did not see this caliber on your list, but I know that quite a few calibers were used over the years.  It has a number 3 barrel and the original peep sight.  The stock seems to be standard fare.  Do you have any idea how many were made, or what range of value it would be in?  Thanks for any information!  

The list I posted only covers the top (30) cartridges by total production.  There were (26) high-wall rifles that were listed in the records as being chambered for the 32 W.S. cartridge.  I suspect that at least another 12 – 18 after serial number 109999.

I will need to see pictures of your high-wall prior to making an attempt to assess its value.

Bert

clarence said

Bert H. said 
There were (26) high-wall rifles that were listed in the records as being chambered for the 32 W.S. cartridge.
 

You have #248538? 

Although .32WCF was a common chambering in LW actions, have you run across many in the HW action?  I have one, with a #3, 30″ brl, which I bought quite reasonably yrs ago, because the dealer who’d been flogging it for many months had reached the point of just wishing it gone–though it was in very nice shape, PG, SST.  He said everyone who picked it up set it back down on his table as fast as they saw the caliber marking, & he’d been approaching the point of having it rechambered; such a heavy gun for such a puny cartridge.  

That is not a valid Model 1885 serial number (one too many digits).

In answer to your second question, Yes, I have found many high-walls that were factory chambered for the 32 WCF cartridge.  Serial number 235 was the first Model 1885 made in that cartridge (11/23/1885), and it was a Special Sporting Rifle.  There were approximately (450) high-walls made in that cartridge before the first 32 WCF low-wall rifle was manufactured.

Bert

Ross,

S/N 106238 was originally a 25-20 S.S. (Single Shot), and it is also a Take Down rifle.  It had a 28-inch octagon barrel, No. 1 size.  As much as I like to see 100% original Single Shot rifles, I would not be inclined to spend the $$$$ to restore your low-wall.  It is much more practical in its current cartridge configuration.

In regards to low-wall cartridges, they were advertised as being available in all of the various rim fire cartridges, and the smaller center fire cartridges (e.g. 22 WCF, 25-20 SS, 32 WCF, 38 WCF, and 44 WCF).  There were a very small number of them made in other center fire cartridges, but they are rare.

Bert