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Hi,
I’m not a big time collector, but have a few 1885’s including a couple that were in Campbell’s second volume. I also have a few 1885’s that are a lot less collectible but are still interesting to me.
A while back I picked up an 1885, serial # 74433 that is kind of neat. Standard rifle stock, #3 round barrel in 25-35, close coupled double set triggers, sling attachment on the barrel but not on the buttstock so either the barrel or buttstock has been replaced at some point. It spent some of it’s time overseas as it has British proof marks. The bore is shiny but has some pitting. It still shoots quite well though.
I would imagine that it must be one of the earlier 25-35’s? If in fact it left the factory with that barrel.
Chris.
Hello Chris,
As you suspected, the barrel is not original to the rest of the rifle. As originally manufactured, s/n 74433 was a Plain Sporting Rifle in 38-55 with a ½ Octagon 30-inch No. 4 barrel, and a close-coupled set trigger.
Do both the barrel and receiver frame have British proof markings on them?
Bert (also a Winchester Single Shot collector)
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Yeah the proof marks are only on the barrel. I hadn’t considered that they would be on the action as well. That makes it pretty obvious that the barrel had been swapped. I assumed that someone had swapped the buttstock because I assumed there were not that many 25-35 barrels around and it was more likely that the buttstock wasn’t correct. Oh well 🙂
It’s interesting that it was a plain sporting rifle with a 1/2 octagon #4 as I have one like that but in 32-40. I think that one is nearly un-messed with. Single set trigger, #4 part octagon. Everything looks right except that someone added sling attachments and scope blocks. But the work looks quite old so the rifle still looks pretty “correct”. It has a nearly perfect bore and came with a nice wooden case and an old Junior Targetspot scope. For most of it’s life it was well cared for.
It is amazing how many of these 1885’s were messed with. I suppose the simplicity of design, and interchangeable parts made that hard to resist.
Thanks for the information. I’ll post a couple of other rifles that you might find interesting over the next day or two.
I have the left handed Special Single Shot shown in Campbell’s second book. It’s pretty neat and although I have never got around to getting a letter for it, Campbell’s book says it’s only deviation from the letter is that the barrel was cut 2″ shorter at some time.
I also have a late Schuetzen rifle in 32-40 with a Zischang barrel and molds. It also shows up in Campbell’s second book, but as just a tiny picture at the bottom of the page. Target shooting in the old days is an interest of mine so this rifle appeals to me a lot, although maybe not as much to a true Winchester collector I guess.
Both of those rifles came from the estate of a collector in Eastern Canada maybe 15 or so years ago.
Chris.
On an original Single Shot rifle that was exported to the U.K., the Brits stamped proof marks on the left side of the barrel, the upper left side of the receiver frame, the left side of the frame ring, and on the top left side of the breech block.
This a picture of my high-wall in 405 WCF (the center rifle in my signature picture) showing all of the proof marks.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
On an original Single Shot rifle that was exported to the U.K., the Brits stamped proof marks on the left side of the barrel, the upper left side of the receiver frame, the left side of the frame ring, and on the top left side of the breech block.This a picture of my high-wall in 405 WCF (the center rifle in my signature picture) showing all of the proof marks.
Lord that thing must be a thunder clapper on the ears, not to mention a fair bit of a shoulder wacker too!
oldcrankyyankee said
Bert H. said
On an original Single Shot rifle that was exported to the U.K., the Brits stamped proof marks on the left side of the barrel, the upper left side of the receiver frame, the left side of the frame ring, and on the top left side of the breech block.
This a picture of my high-wall in 405 WCF (the center rifle in my signature picture) showing all of the proof marks.
Lord that thing must be a thunder clapper on the ears, not to mention a fair bit of a shoulder wacker too!
It most definitely is both. The first time I shot it, I was wearing nothing but a t-shirt (mid August), and it bruised the bejesus out of my right shoulder. It was launching the 300-gr JSP bullets @2,500 fps (Hornady factory ammo). Everyone who was at my local shooting range that day stopped shooting after I touched it off to come see what I was shooting that day.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert. I see the Brits have it measured as a .410 groove diameter? That is unusual for sure! I also know the joys of a crescent buttplate and little in the way of clothes over a shoulder! Whee! All the fun you need in a day. I love the .405. Tim
tim tomlinson said
Bert. I see the Brits have it measured as a .410 groove diameter? That is unusual for sure! I also know the joys of a crescent buttplate and little in the way of clothes over a shoulder! Whee! All the fun you need in a day. I love the .405. Tim
I have no idea why the Brits marked it the way they did, but it shoots the .411 diameter bullets perfectly. Fortunately, my SS rifle has a shotgun butt w/smooth steel plate, but it still hammers you when the trigger is pulled. You had your hands on this rifle at the Cody show in 2023 when I brought it for display (and tried to buy it from me). My good friend Doug (deerehart) has been trying to convince me to sell it to him for a good many years now, and Rob Kassab even made an offer on it several years ago (when he took pictures of it for the Model 1895 book).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Chuck said
3 1/2″ barrel?
Yes, that was the standard size for both the 35 WCF and 405 WCF caliber high-wall rifle barrels. The No. 3½ barrels were essentially a rapid taper No. 4. The breech diameter is the same as a No. 4 barrel, but tapers to a No. 3 at the muzzle.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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