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Of the total number of single-shots made, only three in this chambering… I’d have bought it in a heartbeat for the final price. It even has a tang sight 🙂
steve004 said
Of the total number of single-shots made, only three in this chambering… I’d have bought it in a heartbeat for the final price. It even has a tang sight 🙂
Steve,
Until I posted the list with the quantity, I was most likely the only person on the planet who knew that there were only three Single Shot rifles made in that specific cartridge. Undoubtedly, a lot of the potential buyers/collectors thought it was the much more common 32 WCF.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I’ve often thought it would be fun to try assemble a Winchester single-shot collection in every cartridge offered. Had I started that 45 years ago, I’d be darn close now. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to nearly accomplish that goal. .577 Eley, and so on have been options I have passed on. Had I actually done that, I would have been thrilled to have stumbled upon this one as, I know, I have never seen one of these for sale before. The Winchester single-shot is a very classy and collectible rifle, but for me at least, what really sets it apart is the amazing array of chamberings. Is there any other rifle in history that was offered in any where close to as many chamberings?
steve004 said
Of the total number of single-shots made, only three in this chambering… I’d have bought it in a heartbeat for the final price. It even has a tang sight 🙂
Wasn’t the auction still “open” when the first post about it was made back in Oct 2019?
Bert H. said
Steve,
Until I posted the list with the quantity, I was most likely the only person on the planet who knew that there were only three Single Shot rifles made in that specific cartridge. Undoubtedly, a lot of the potential buyers/collectors thought it was the much more common 32 WCF.
Bert
Possibly, but I’m inclined to believe they assumed it was a .32RF. If they had believed it was a .32 WCF, I think it would have brought more, because it’s a popular cartridge that’s easy to shoot. A gun in this cond. is going to be viewed by most SS enthusiasts (like myself) as a shooter, not a “rarity.” Steve’s interest in rare calibers is worthy of respect, but is not shared by the majority of SS collectors.
clarence said
Wasn’t the auction still “open” when the first post about it was made back in Oct 2019?
Tonight is the first time I have read this thread.
clarence said
Possibly, but I’m inclined to believe they assumed it was a .32RF. If they had believed it was a .32 WCF, I think it would have brought more, because it’s a popular cartridge that’s easy to shoot. A gun in this cond. is going to be viewed by most SS enthusiasts (like myself) as a shooter, not a “rarity.” Steve’s interest in rare calibers is worthy of respect, but is not shared by the majority of SS collectors.
Clarence – I won’t disagree with you. I’m the guy who likes .33’s, .32 specials, shotgun butts… so it only makes sense I wouldn’t be in sync with the majority of SS collectors. Truly, I can’t get my head around how the Winchester single-shot – a highly collectible rifle – in a chambering that they only made three of – wouldn’t be a near Holy Grail find for a lot of SS collectors. I’ve met many a collector and it seems one of the great pleasures they aspire toward is having items that no one else has, or that no one else has seen. I accept that I am wrong, but I my head is still beating to my own drummer.
steve004 said
I’ve often thought it would be fun to try assemble a Winchester single-shot collection in every cartridge offered. Had I started that 45 years ago, I’d be darn close now. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to nearly accomplish that goal.
Well, have you picked-up one of the 26 .32 WSs in Bert’s survey? I have one I like but don’t consider it indispensable. Page 118 in Campbell Vol. 1. Anything to trade? What I crave is an un-rare .30 US.
clarence said
steve004 said
I’ve often thought it would be fun to try assemble a Winchester single-shot collection in every cartridge offered. Had I started that 45 years ago, I’d be darn close now. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to nearly accomplish that goal.Well, have you picked-up one of the 26 .32 WSs in Bert’s survey? I have one I like but don’t consider it indispensable. Page 118 in Campbell Vol. 1. Anything to trade? What I crave is an un-rare .30 US.
Both of my 30 U.S. high-walls are on the “rare” side. The first was special ordered with a Schuetzen double-set trigger and a shotgun butt (hard rubber variety), and the second is the late production Take Down. Fortunately, there were nearly 1,100 high-wall rifles made in 30 U.S.
The second rifle from the top is the first 30 U.S. rifle I mentioned;
This is the Take Down in 30 U.S.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Both of my 30 U.S. high-walls are on the “rare” side. The first was special ordered with a Schuetzen double-set trigger and a shotgun butt (hard rubber variety), and the second is the late production Take Down. Fortunately, there were nearly 1,100 high-wall rifles made in 30 U.S.
The second rifle from the top is the first 30 U.S. rifle I mentioned;
This is the Take Down in 30 U.S.
Clarence – had I gone the single-shot model collecting route, I’m sure I would be interested in your .32 special. But it’s too late in my career to embark on that goal. I’d surely love a single-shot in .33 WCF too. Aside from my history and affinity with the .32 special and .33 WCF, the cartridges I would crave the most in the single-shot are in-line with the majority of collectors. That is the bigger bore cartridges. I’d really like a .405 WCF and from there, some of the .45 and at the top of the list are the various .50’s (and bigger).
Bert – I greatly enjoyed your photos. That takedown .30-40 really has condition going for it! And rarity 🙂
November 7, 2015
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At some point soon after I got interested in Single Shots I decided to pursue adding a “standard” model for an example piece in my modest collection. After a few years I came to the conclusion that a “standard” Single Shot may not exist and that finding one I liked was a better plan. Point is there are thousands of rare or unusual SS’s and many thousands of possible variations given the dozens of chamberings available, the configuration options and the different barrels. IMHO rarity is not necessarily a value-added consideration with the SS even if it does make it more interesting to the collector.
Mike
TXGunNut said
At some point soon after I got interested in Single Shots I decided to pursue adding a “standard” model for an example piece in my modest collection. After a few years I came to the conclusion that a “standard” Single Shot may not exist and that finding one I liked was a better plan. Point is there are thousands of rare or unusual SS’s and many thousands of possible variations given the dozens of chamberings available, the configuration options and the different barrels. IMHO rarity is not necessarily a value-added consideration with the SS even if it does make it more interesting to the collector.
Mike
The Single Shot is a unique rifle – among rifles in general and among Winchesters. I’ve known many Winchester collectors who assemble various lever rifle sets where with a specific model, they have one in each chambering offered. I have never met anyone who did that with the Single Shot. Mike – I agree with you on the rarity factor when it comes to this model.
This has been a thought-provoking thread for me.
steve004 said
The Single Shot is a unique rifle – among rifles in general and among Winchesters.
Among Winchesters that’s very true, but all the major makers of SSs offered a multitude of options & variations, many of them not listed in the factory catalogs. Borrow, if you can (since it’s going now for about $300, I believe), a copy of Dutcher’s Ballard book & prepare to be blown away by what could be ordered.
clarence said
steve004 said
The Single Shot is a unique rifle – among rifles in general and among Winchesters.
Among Winchesters that’s very true, but all the major makers of SSs offered a multitude of options & variations, many of them not listed in the factory catalogs. Borrow, if you can (since it’s going now for about $300, I believe), a copy of Dutcher’s Ballard book & prepare to be blown away by what could be ordered.
Clarence – You make an important point. I have some knowledge of the extensiveness of what Ballard offered over the years. I would suspect the Ballard SS is #2 in total number of possible variations. But I’ll bet the Winchester SS is #1. I am aware that Ballard was offered in many chamberings but I’m thinking they were topped by Winchester.
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