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Would a High Wall in .32 WCF caliber, made in 1889, be unusual ? What was the ratio of HW vs. LW in .32 WCF, if available ?
Thanks for any info on this.
In answer to your first question, No, it is not unusual. There were more Model 1885 rifles made in 32 WCF than any other center fire cartridge. In the early production years, most of them were high-walls. Most of the early low-walls were made in rim fire cartridges (22 and 32 caliber). It wasn’t until several years after the low-wall was introduced that Winchester began making a lot of them in center fire cartridges.
I do not know (at this time) how many high-walls versus low-walls were made in 32 WCF, but if I had to guess, I would put it at 40% vs. 60%.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert, is it usual to have a low wall in .32-20 with a #2 30″ oct. barrel?
Bert H. said
In answer to your first question, No, it is not unusual. There were more Model 1885 rifles made in 32 WCF than any other center fire cartridge. In the early production years, most of them were high-walls. Most of the early low-walls were made in rim fire cartridges (22 and 32 caliber). It wasn’t until several years after the low-wall was introduced that Winchester began making a lot of them in center fire cartridges.
I do not know (at this time) how many high-walls versus low-walls were made in 32 WCF, but if I had to guess, I would put it at 40% vs. 60%.
Bert
Thank you very much for the answers ; exactly what I needed !
joe45c said
Bert, is it usual to have a low wall in .32-20 with a #2 30″ oct. barrel?
Joe,
No, it is not “usual”. The standard barrel size for the low-wall was always a No. 1, regardless of which cartridge it might have been chambered in. The standard barrel length varied depending on the specific cartridge, e.g.
22 rim fire (regardless of which specific cartridge) was 24-inches
25 and 32 rim fire was 26-inchs
25, 32, 38, and 44 center fire was 28-inches.
In all cases, a 30-inch (or longer) barrel on a low-wall was special order, as was a No. 2 size barrel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
joe45c said
Thanks Bert. That was what i was thinking that mine was a special order.
You are welcome.
Oddly enough, owning a model 1885 with “special” order features is not really not anything “special”. There were more Model 1885 Single Shots with one (or more) special order features than there were “plain Jane” cataloged rifles. That stated, there were more special order options available on the Model 1885 than any other Winchester model.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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