dbro said
Thank you all for the great information. I don’t know why I posted the 25-35 cartridge when I meant the 32-40. I must have the 1894 on the brain. I have a high wall in 32-40 with a #3 octagon barrel. Would be fun to have a low wall in the same caliber but I know my chances are slim.
There were a very small number if low-wall Single Shot rifles made in 32-40 based on what I have found thus far in the warehouse ledger records. I haven’t actually had my hands on one of them yet, but expect that I will someday in the future. As I mentioned, I have confirmed the existance of one low-wall in 38-56, and one in 40-65 WCF. The ledger records indicate that there were about a dozen more made in the 32-04 & 38-55 cartridges.
Bert
WACA 6571L, Historian & Board of Director Member
steve004 said
As some here know, I have an interest in the terminology Winchester used vs. the terms collectors came along with. For example, Winchester didn’t use the term, “saddle ring carbine.” Winchester used the term, “carbine” and, “sling ring” for those equipped with a ring. On the topic of the single shot model, as I understand it, Winchester didn’t use the terms, “high wall” or, “low wall.” My question today has to do with the model designation. In the original catalogs, the model was designated the Single Shot Rifle” and no reference was made to, “Model 1885.” Additionally, nearly every Winchester lever rifle from that era (e.g. Models 1873, 1876, 1886, 1894, 1895) were marked on the tangs with the numerical (i.e. year of origin) model number. The the tangs on the Single Shot rifles were not marked Model 1885. My question has to do with museum letters I have seen for Single Shot rifles. They list the rifles as, “Model 1885.” Are they designated as Model 1885 in the factory ledgers?
I would imagine that whomever owns this Factory Memoranda Book could shed a lot of light on more than one of these particular questions. But to get a hold of whomever and finding out wouldn’t be easy. Don’t hold your breath.
The book came with a nice set of Factory Gages that sold at RIA a while back.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Maverick said
I would imagine that whomever owns this Factory Memoranda Book could shed a lot of light on more than one of these particular questions. But to get a hold of whomever and finding out wouldn’t be easy. Don’t hold your breath.
The book came with a nice set of Factory Gages that sold at RIA a while back.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WOW. I had missed that. That is something very special. The sale price seems very reasonable for what it is. I’d be afraid to display that on a gun show table. Talk about something that is irreplaceable. Thanks for sharing. You just never know where these threads will lead.
steve004 said
Talk about something that is irreplaceable.
So why didn’t some generous, public spirited, benefactor of the Winchester Museum buy these items & place them where they’d be available for research & study? For those with the means to buy $20-30,000 guns (of which there are many, as we see from auction sales), the cost of these items would have been trifling, as well as a nice little tax write-off.
Maverick said
I would imagine that whomever owns this Factory Memoranda Book could shed a lot of light on more than one of these particular questions. But to get a hold of whomever and finding out wouldn’t be easy. Don’t hold your breath.
Maybe, maybe not, as it dates from late in SS production, 1914. Possibly unknown info on Winder muskets, maybe even an explanation of the inexplicable “Model 87” designation. I can understand the desire to hold the actual artifact in my hands, but not the motivation to keep its contents secret from other collectors.
Yes, WOW! I would have bid on that lot as well, it went for a very reasonable price.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
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