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I recently found a high value firearm I bought years ago has more options than listed on Cody letter. Everything else is correct.
My question; Does it ever occur that all options are not always listed in the original Winchester work order and thus not included with Cody letter.
Yes there can be errors in the ledger and things are not listed but not too often. The other possibility is it was returned & repaired and at that time the configuration was changed. Return & repairs are sometimes listed on the letter but not always. If you post good pictures of the gun and what the letter says we can probably figure out what happened. Letters also have to be interpreted since at times certain features are standard and not listed in the ledgers.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
This was an 1885 highwall that listed as checked stocks which now has cheekpiece, swiss butt and target sights. I guess a possibility is it was upgraded at later date to increase value. I did purchase from WACA member and felt secure in originality until Denver show. I can post photos later but need to get to work now.
The most common option feature/item that got left out of the ledger entries was non-standard sights. Having said that, in many cases, the sights were changed/upgraded after the fact.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I would pull the stock and look for assemble numbers to see if its been swapped. If there is a number on the tang and none on the wood or a different number than you have a aftermarket upgrade. If there are no numbers at all then you have to go by the fit and finish to tell if its original.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
antler1 said
This was an 1885 highwall that listed as checked stocks which now has cheekpiece, swiss butt and target sights. I guess a possibility is it was upgraded at later date to increase value. I did purchase from WACA member and felt secure in originality until Denver show. I can post photos later but need to get to work now.
This was the rifle that Bill C. corresponded with me about while he was at the show.
While it is very remotely possible that Winchester missed recording the Swiss cheek piece, the Swiss butt plate, and the sights on that rifle in the warehouse ledger, it is very unlikely.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
My M1885 High Wall letters with all the options that are on it now. Even the Mid range Vernier tang sight and the globe front. Swiss buttplate, and set triggers. 24″ #3 bbl. and 22 short cal., all are in the letter. Big Larry
Here’s a real nice high wall at Cabelas, but no mention of the Swiss butt or set trigger in the Cody search record. No R&R either.
Don
deerhunter said
Here’s a real nice high wall at Cabelas, but no mention of the Swiss butt or set trigger in the Cody search record. No R&R either.Don
Don,
That is a “Special Single Shot Rifle” and as such, the Swiss butt plate was standard. The only oddity is the letter not mentioning the single-set trigger. The vast majority of the high-grade Model 1885 rifles were equipped with set triggers. That is a very fine looking Model 1885, and very fairly priced.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks Bert. I didn’t know the Swiss butt was standard on this grade of 1885’s. Definitely a beautiful rifle. Every once in awhile Cabelas will have something very nice and reasonably priced. Sometimes their inexperience is in the buyer’s favor. Too bad it’s a bit out of my price range right now…
Don
Just got back to computer. Thanks all your input. Evidently I’ve learned a valuable lesson.
Letters may be even more unique than the gun. I have a 1895 in 40-72 in excellent original condition. When I got the letter, it shed a different light on the history of the gun, stating that the dealer wanted permission to sell it for less than retail…
Shrapnel said
Letters may be even more unique than the gun. I have a 1895 in 40-72 in excellent original condition. When I got the letter, it shed a different light on the history of the gun, stating that the dealer wanted permission to sell it for less than retail…
That is an interesting letter. Thanks for sharing ti.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
deerhunter said
Here’s a real nice high wall at Cabelas, but no mention of the Swiss butt or set trigger in the Cody search record. No R&R either.Don
Bert H. said
Don,
That is a “Special Single Shot Rifle” and as such, the Swiss butt plate was standard. The only oddity is the letter not mentioning the single-set trigger. The vast majority of the high-grade Model 1885 rifles were equipped with set triggers. That is a very fine looking Model 1885, and very fairly priced.
Bert
I’m a bit surprised this 1885 hasn’t sold yet.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
Interesting letter and how times have changed. The letter giving permission to sell the rifle at less than full price is some 10 years after the ship date. One might speculate that the unusual caliber kept the gun unsold and on display for a decade. Nowadays the retailer would just mark it down after reasonable interval to clear inventory. They also probably didn’t have to pay annual inventory tax on the unsold gun for 10 years.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
Wincacher said
Interesting letter and how times have changed. The letter giving permission to sell the rifle at less than full price is some 10 years after the ship date. One might speculate that the unusual caliber kept the gun unsold and on display for a decade. Nowadays the retailer would just mark it down after reasonable interval to clear inventory. They also probably didn’t have to pay annual inventory tax on the unsold gun for 10 years.
Winchester would refuse to sell you any more if they heard you sold for less than the retail price, which they set.
Vince
Southern Oregon
NRA member
Fraternal Order of Eagles
“There is but one answer to be made to the dynamite bomb and that can best be made by the Winchester rifle.”
Teddy Roosevelt
November 7, 2015
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Kevin Jones said
Bert H. said
Don,That is a “Special Single Shot Rifle” and as such, the Swiss butt plate was standard. The only oddity is the letter not mentioning the single-set trigger. The vast majority of the high-grade Model 1885 rifles were equipped with set triggers. That is a very fine looking Model 1885, and very fairly priced.
Bert
I’m a bit surprised this 1885 hasn’t sold yet.
It’s been there a few weeks, maybe a bit longer. If you play your cards right I feel pretty sure they’d listen to an offer.
Online
Bert H. said
Don,
That is a “Special Single Shot Rifle” and as such, the Swiss butt plate was standard. The only oddity is the letter not mentioning the single-set trigger. The vast majority of the high-grade Model 1885 rifles were equipped with set triggers. That is a very fine looking Model 1885, and very fairly priced.
Bert
That is a nice looking rifle. The only thing that bothers me is that the letter does not list the set trigger. Do you think it left the factory with a set trigger? Or do you think it was installed outside? Also, the front sight is missing. How much would an original front sight for this cost?
tionesta1 said
Bert H. said
Don,
That is a “Special Single Shot Rifle” and as such, the Swiss butt plate was standard. The only oddity is the letter not mentioning the single-set trigger. The vast majority of the high-grade Model 1885 rifles were equipped with set triggers. That is a very fine looking Model 1885, and very fairly priced.
Bert
That is a nice looking rifle. The only thing that bothers me is that the letter does not list the set trigger. Do you think it left the factory with a set trigger? Or do you think it was installed outside? Also, the front sight is missing. How much would an original front sight for this cost?
Al,
Yes, I do believe that it left the factory with the set trigger, as nearly all of the Model 1885 “target” grade rifles were equipped with them. An original Winchester wind gauge globe front sight with its inserts is going to run at least $600.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Al,
Yes, I do believe that it left the factory with the set trigger, as nearly all of the Model 1885 “target” grade rifles were equipped with them. An original Winchester wind gauge globe front sight with its inserts is going to run at least $600.
Bert
Thanks Bert, I was at Cabela’s yesterday and was in the Gun Library and saw it there, and remembered this post, so that is why I brought it up.
It’s a nice gun. There is a bit of old pitting on the barrel near the muzzle end, but not much else wrong with it from what I saw.
Al
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