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Hello,
I guess this one goes to Bert…but of course anyone who knows something is appreciated. So, here´s the question:
Is there any accurate estimate how many model 1885 (or model "87") rifles were produced after the year 1920? I know that the last known serial number was something about 139 700-range, but when the manufacturing was coming to an end at about 1920, the serials were in the vicinity of 115 000, or am I correct? I also know that serials were skipped after that, but how large quantities? It does not sound right that over 20 000 rifles of quite an old model were produced on Twenties, when bolt-action rifles were coming more and more popular after WWI? And again, were these last rifles mainly Winder musket-type?
My guess is that not over 10,000, or so, were made in the last 12 years of manufacture. And, yes, mostly Winders. I also think a number of serial numbers were skipped in the mid-teens. Bert is the man on single shots and can set us straight.
Gentlmen,
Official production of the Model 1885 ended in June of 1920, and the serial number at that time was 139735. The serial numbers were not in the vicinity of 115,000 as Madis stated, nor were any serial nuumbers ever "skipped". The PR records show that serial number 115308 was made on May 26th, 1914 (that is the last entry in the PR records).
In regards to how many were assembled after June of 1920… maybe 300 or so, all of them parts clean-up rifles and muskets. The vast majority of the production after serial number 122000 was the Model 87 3rd variation Winder Muskets. Production of the Model 87 began in January of 1918, and wrapped up in June of 1920.
Winchester manufactured nearly 30,000 single shots between June 1910 – June 1920, with the strong majority of them being 2nd and 3rd variation Winder Muskets.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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