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September 11, 2008
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I bought an M1885 High wall in caliber 38-55 today and I have a question about it:
There is a small hole in the trigger which I can’t explain. Does anyone know more about this?
Best regards
Stefan
April 15, 2005
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The trigger on your Single Shot rifle was made for a single set trigger. The hole was milled for the set screw… is it tapped (threaded)?
In the early production period of the Single Shot rifles, Winchester quite frequently used triggers that were predrilled for a set screw on rifles that were otherwise made for a plain (non-set) trigger. I believe that Winchester assumed that the majority of the early Single Shot rifles would be ordered with a set trigger, so they preemptively manufactured all of the triggers for that option. Per the factory records, your rifle was manufactured with a plain (non-set) trigger. I have Single Shot s/n 1727 that is configured the same as your rifle, a plain (non-set) trigger, but the trigger has the hole milled in it for a set screw.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
September 11, 2008
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Hello Bert,
That sounds plausible to me. If it had a set trigger, wouldn’t the lower part of the hammer also have to be slotted?
I will have a closer look tomorrow to see if there is a thread cut and remove the stock to see how the trigger is constructed and photograph everything.
The rifle apparently once had a Tang Sight, the screw plugs are missing and it has a folding rear sight. Can you see that in your records?
Stefan
April 15, 2005
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steff said
Hello Bert,That sounds plausible to me. If it had a set trigger, wouldn’t the lower part of the hammer also have to be slotted?
I will have a closer look tomorrow to see if there is a thread cut and remove the stock to see how the trigger is constructed and photograph everything.
The rifle apparently once had a Tang Sight, the screw plugs are missing and it has a folding rear sight. Can you see that in your records?
Stefan
Yes, the hammer would have a slot milled in it for the set trigger fly.
The ledger record does not indicate that it had a factory installed tang sight.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
September 11, 2008
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I inspected the rifle again today, the hole is threaded but there are no other signs of a set trigger.
Here are a few more pictures
November 1, 2013
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Very nice–esp like those early “hex” rcvr rings. The owner who replaced the standard rear sight with the folding Lyman when (presumably) he mounted the tang sight it once had revealed himself to be an intelligent shooter. If I were you, I’d search on ebay for an early Lyman #1 to return the rifle to that previous configuration.
April 15, 2005
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steff said
I inspected the rifle again today, the hole is threaded but there are no other signs of a set trigger.Here are a few more pictures
That is exactly that same as my rifle s/n 1727, and several others that I have observed in the pre 3000 serial number range.
The frame ring is actually “octagon” in contour as it matches the top three flats of the octagon barrel.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
