F.K. said
Hi everyone, 
does anybody have exact numbers of how many 1885s were made for the 45-120-550 or the 45-110 Sharps cartridge and in what years, possibly?
I think these are absolutely fascinating cartridges... 
My hopes are on Bert  😀 
Thank you so much! 
  

As Bill pointed out, my article discussing the many (98 of them in total) different cartridges that were chambered in the Single Shot is the only accurate source of information.

Winchester introduced the 45 Sharps cartridges in the April 1886 catalog, but they were available from the inception of the Single Shot in September 1885.  It was the January 1896 catalog that discontinued the 45 Sharps cartridges, though they could still be special ordered. 

The 45-120 was usually listed in the ledger records as "45-3¼".  In my research survey, just two rifles have been found after serial number 79999.  The highest known serial number is 96419, received in the warehouse in January 1904.

Bert

does anybody have exact numbers of how many 1885s were made for the 45-120-550 or the 45-110 Sharps cartridge and in what years, possibly?

I think these are absolutely fascinating cartridges... 

My hopes are on Bert  😀 

Thank you so much! 

I wonder what different rear sights were used (which numbers?) for the 1886 model and why.

I am aware that out of the box the 45-70 used the ladder rear sight (similar to the carbine sight) the 50-100-450 used a three leaf express sight - the rest buckhorns. Does anybody know which numbers they were? 

And why did they use different sights in the first place? 45-70 has a high trajectory as well as the 50-100-450- so why use a different sight with less adaptability for the 50? 

Thank you for your thoughts 

James Fenderson said
Here a couple bolt face pictures of a factory center fire 1866
  

The second picture of the bolt face is similar to the pic I sent.  It takes care of the excessive head space.  The Factory made several different CF's according to Madis.  The Winchester Book 1 of 1000, 1885 version on page 100 he shows some pictures and describes the variations. 

But here is another thing to think about.  Some of the very earliest 1866's might have been center fire too.  Read the section on the 1866 in Herbert Houze's book, The Winchester 1876 Centennial Rifle.  Especially page 33.  

James Fenderson said
Here a couple bolt face pictures of a factory center fire 1866
  

This appears to be a very nice example.  Can you provide close up shots of both sides of the receiver as well?

Very nice looking carbine.  And thanks for the visual example - very helpful.

I believe that is why vintage Winchesters (and probably other makes as well) will always appeal to the discriminating collector. We just don't often see the level of craftmanship today that we see in old Winchesters. When you realize "power tools" were belt driven by overhead shafts it boggles my feeble mind. When we realize Winchester employees and contractors made virtually every part of their firearms down to the last screw and pin we realize it was a different time, indeed. They even made many of the tools used to make the parts! Awhile back I bought a "98%" stock that was one flick of a pocket knife away from a perfect fit so it is possible to get a good fit with today's technology and workforce. At today's price points, labor costs and overhead most manufactured goods cannot have much skilled labor involved. IMHO we have a shortage of people who will bother to learn the skills to work with their hands. 

Mike