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How are you coming on your book? I have not seen you for awile and got to thinking about your mission. Were you at vegas 2 weeks ago?
rafter-7
Rafter,
Which book?… I have one that is complete & published (3rd edition) and two others in progress, and that does not include the five articles that I have written & published for the Winchester Collector magazine, or the four additional articles that are in the works. It seems that I spend an inordinate amount of time researching and writing these days!
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I’ve had my 3rd edition of The Red Book of Winchester Values for abot a month now. Very pleased, you guys realy stepped up on this addition.
W.D.
- Bert, We met a number of years ago at the Reno show. While there I showed you my 1885, serial# 161, with Browning Brother’s stamp next to the Winchester patent stamp.
Wondering, do you know how many 1885’s were given to Browning by Winchester as part of the payment for the patent, and stamped by Browning? Thank you.
Vince DeGuilio said
- Bert, We met a number of years ago at the Reno show. While there I showed you my 1885, serial# 161, with Browning Brother’s stamp next to the Winchester patent stamp.
Wondering, do you know how many 1885’s were given to Browning by Winchester as part of the payment for the patent, and stamped by Browning? Thank you.
Hello Vince,
I do remember meeting you at the Big Reno Show, and looking at your early production Browning marked high-wall. In answer to your question, I do not know the exact number of Model 1885 rifles that were shipped to Browning in payment for his patent. That stated, I have documented a few hundred of them thus far.
The earliest known order that shipped to Browning was # 1673, and it consisted of (10) rifles, with the earliest serial number being number 20. Your rifle was in the second batch of high-wall rifles shipped to him (on order # 2283), and it contained (8) rifles. I own serial number 1727, which was in the fourth batch shipped to Browning, and it contained (20) high-wall rifles on order # 7861. There was a total of (46) Model 1885 rifles shipped to Browning in the first four orders, with all having serial numbers under 2000.
Because it is a very time intensive task to review the ledger records, I suspect that I will never know for sure how many Model 1885 rifles were eventually shipped to the Browning Brothers. I do know that Winchester continued to ship them rifles into the early 1900s. I have a low-wall 25-20 S.S. (serial number 80416) that was shipped to Browning February 4th, 1898.
Bert – [email protected]
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thank you, Bert.
I believe John Browning gave this rifle to my wife’s great uncle, Francis Wood.
Before I knew this rifle existed, Mr. Wood, when relating stories about the Wood Livestock Company, (the WLS stamp on the receiver) the family ranch out of Spencer, Idaho, told me the Wood family also had a home in Ogden, Utah, and that, as a child, he was friends with Val Browning. He told me that John Browning “gave me one of his first single shot rifles.” I believe this is that rifle.
January 26, 2011
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Vince D. said
Thank you, Bert.
I believe John Browning gave this rifle to my wife’s great uncle, Francis Wood.
Before I knew this rifle existed, Mr. Wood, when relating stories about the Wood Livestock Company, (the WLS stamp on the receiver) the family ranch out of Spencer, Idaho, told me the Wood family also had a home in Ogden, Utah, and that, as a child, he was friends with Val Browning. He told me that John Browning “gave me one of his first single shot rifles.” I believe this is that rifle.
Very Interesting!
~Gary~
For those interested in this thread, read the article in the Winter 2012 “Collector” entitled “An Early Model 1885 Ranch Rifle”.
WACA Life Benefactor Member
NRA Life Member
November 7, 2015
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Thanks, Rick. Sounds like a great story.
Mike
I’m curious if Bert would answer related to a low wall I just picked up (online auction). I have several other low walls and serial number is on the lower tang. No luck with the gun I received today. It is marked 714 on the reciever just in front of the lever. I would think this is the serial number and I’m curious if I’m correct. If your logging thease it is in 32 long with a number 2 barrel 28″ (thick side)
Craig said
I’m curious if Bert would answer related to a low wall I just picked up (online auction). I have several other low walls and serial number is on the lower tang. No luck with the gun I received today. It is marked 714 on the reciever just in front of the lever. I would think this is the serial number and I’m curious if I’m correct. If your logging thease it is in 32 long with a number 2 barrel 28″ (thick side)
Hello Craig,
Winchester only marked the serial number on the lower tang. At this time, I do not know what the “714” is or why it is marked on the receiver. The 2nd variation low-wall receiver frame is actually a “flat-side” versus a “thick-side”, and Winchester did not begin production of them until serial numbers were in the 17,000 range.
Can you send me pictures of the rifle?
Bert – [email protected]
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
My wife sent them over her phone. We could not figure out this “pad like thing” I use and I have issues with technology. Sent photos to [email protected]. Thanks again your knowledge on Winchester things is a blessing to us all.
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