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December 9, 2002
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I have to give thanks to Bert, for enlightening me, once again, with some information, when I contacted him about an 1885 Single Shot, in a saddle ring carbine, with a 16 inch barrel, and .44 WCF Caliber. #75229, Received in the Whse. 1896. When Bert told me about the rarity of this rifle, I had to grab it, about a month ago!
According to his great survey information, in the Winter Collector Magazine of 2021, it wasn’t the fact that 3,875, S.S rifles, (High Walls/Low Walls), were mfg in the .44 WCF Caliber, but the fact that this is a 16 inch barrel, and a S.R.C., in a “Trapper”, configuration, and in a low wall, was something that intrigued me.
Only 10 of these we’re manufactured by Winchester, with a 16 inch barrel, and in the .44 Caliber!
Like most ” Trappers’, she’s been used, and she might be a little tired, but I plan on shooting this old girl, and bring some life back to the old girl again.
The faint serial number, on the outside of the lower tang behind the lever, matches the stamped number, on the inside tang as the same #75229, on the letter. Verifying this SRC. With some cleaning done years ago removing rust and pitting, left scattered throughout the carbine, I was able to free up the rusted rear sight, gently getting it to function properly. I removed all of the once replaced wood, from long ago, that’s not original to this carbine, and the internal parts, inside the falling block action receive, had some rust that I was able to carefully remove, and replace with gun grease, as there was some protected case colored internal parts, that exposed themselves upon cleaning. The front short blade sight looks to be solid and original. With the old ring on it’s original staple. The Bore actually has some decent rifling in it, as maybe a 4-5, out of 10. IMO! A grey carbine that probably saw better days, or at least a lot of action, as she earned her rest, that I’ll give her, and just dust her off occasionally on a trek to the PA. hunt/camp/family farm, for some recreational shooting. AHHH, if she could only talk!
I think I’ll never be able to figure out, why some pictures turn, and some don’t. I even tried to change the size of the picture, to a smaller size, to try to avoid it, to no avail.
Anthony
November 7, 2015
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Anthony-
Nice score, proof that it pays to have your eyes open and an enabler…excuse me…expert only a phone call away. Bert helped me score a pretty cool Single Shot at the Orphanage awhile back. Nice job on the preservation, it should outlast most or all of us now. Don’t sell that bore short, she may be a decent shooter!
Mike
July 14, 2016
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Nice! Well done on cleaning her up. How bad was the wood that you replaced?
They are a great little gun, I have two of the 15” versions. Many of them were exported down here. And as always, Bert has been a great help with researching these rare 1885 carbines.
Chris
A man can never have too many WINCHESTERS...
December 9, 2002
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TXGunNut said
Anthonu-
Nice score, proof that it pays to have your eyes open and an enabler…excuse me…expert only a phone call away. Bert helped me score a pretty cool Single Shot at the Orphanage awhile back. Nice job on the preservation, it should outlast most or all of us now. Don’t sell that bore short, she may be a decent shooter!
Mike
Mike,
I’m in agreement with you on the bore, as I won’t sell her short, and will take any suggestions here, as to what recommendations I should throw down the tube! 
Chris D said
Nice! Well done on cleaning her up. How bad was the wood that you replaced?
They are a great little gun, I have two of the 15” versions. Many of them were exported down here. And as always, Bert has been a great help with researching these rare 1885 carbines.
Chris
Chris,
I must not have explained myself clearly. As It’s the way I found it, as someone before me replaced the wood. What looks to be a fairly long time ago, examining the inside of the wood, and not just the exterior. Looking at the neat little SRC, it’s possible this was close to being a relic, and maybe their wasn’t much left of the wood, as the stained old wear on the barrel, goes down past where the current wood would normally protect it. Causing me to possibly think that the old wood was worn down past it. What we would consider a normal edge of the forearm wood, where it meets the barrel. Almost like a darker shadow like, darker stained impression in the wood, below the edge line.
Cheers to Bert, once again!
Anthony
April 15, 2005
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If it will not shoot cast lead bullet loads with acceptable accuracy, make sure to try some jacketed soft point bullet loads. You do not need to stick with the light “Cowboy” loads. Your low-wall can easily digest the same loads as a Model 1892 (W.H.V.).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 9, 2002
Online
Bert H. said
If it will not shoot cast lead bullet loads with acceptable accuracy, make sure to try some jacketed soft point bullet loads. You do not need to stick with the light “Cowboy” loads. Your low-wall can easily digest the same loads as a Model 1892 (W.H.V.).
Bert
Bert,
You’ve answered some questions in you’re response. Some great information in what I can shoot and try!
Thanks, Bert!
Tony
November 19, 2006
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For anyone interested in this topic (me, for example), I was re-reading Lew Yearout’s article in the Fall, 2004 WACA magazine. “Winchester Model 1885 Single Shot “Carbines & Short Rifles”, I was interested to see a “High Wall” sling ring carbine in .32 WCF he featured. I recalled when Merz offered that exact carbine for sale in 1986. A “High Wall” carbine with a sling ring caught my attention way back then.
Tony Gregory has an excellent article in the Summer 2007 magazine: “A Look at the 1885 Single Shot Saddle Ring Carbine.”
Great articles – very informative.
April 15, 2005
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steve004 said
For anyone interested in this topic (me, for example), I was re-reading Lew Yearout’s article in the Fall, 2004 WACA magazine. “Winchester Model 1885 Single Shot “Carbines & Short Rifles”, I was interested to see a “High Wall” sling ring carbine in .32 WCF he featured. I recalled when Merz offered that exact carbine for sale in 1986. A “High Wall” carbine with a sling ring caught my attention way back then.
Tony Gregory has an excellent article in the Summer 2007 magazine: “A Look at the 1885 Single Shot Saddle Ring Carbine.”
Great articles – very informative.
Steve,
I helped Tony put that article together, and had my hands on both of those SRCs while he still owned them. The high-wall SRC has very cool. It is (1) of (10) that were custom ordered and exported to Australia, and it is (1) of (3) verified to still exist. In total, there are (20) High-wall Carbines that were made, all special order. The low-wall Carbines cannot be considered “special order” because they were a cataloged variation.
This table is my survey of the ledger records and is all of the high-wall Carbines I found listed.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 19, 2006
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Bert H. said
steve004 said
For anyone interested in this topic (me, for example), I was re-reading Lew Yearout’s article in the Fall, 2004 WACA magazine. “Winchester Model 1885 Single Shot “Carbines & Short Rifles”, I was interested to see a “High Wall” sling ring carbine in .32 WCF he featured. I recalled when Merz offered that exact carbine for sale in 1986. A “High Wall” carbine with a sling ring caught my attention way back then.
Tony Gregory has an excellent article in the Summer 2007 magazine: “A Look at the 1885 Single Shot Saddle Ring Carbine.”
Great articles – very informative.
Steve,
I helped Tony put that article together, and had my hands on both of those SRCs while he still owned them. The high-wall SRC has very cool. It is (1) of (10) that were custom ordered and exported to Australia, and it is (1) of (3) verified to still exist. In total, there are (20) High-wall Carbines that were made, all special order. The low-wall Carbines cannot be considered “special order” because they were a cataloged variation.
This table is my survey of the ledger records and is all of the high-wall Carbines I found listed.
Bert
Bert –
Again I’m not surprised you were involved with the 2007 article. It certainly is right up your alley. And yes, the High Wall SRC is one cool beast!
So, three verified to still exist… there may well be more out there … waiting to be discovered. What a find that would be.
Of the 20 special order carbines, are any known to still exist?
April 15, 2005
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steve004 said
Bert –
Of the 20 special order carbines, are any known to still exist?
As I mentioned, (3) of the (10) that were exported to Australia have been found, and I found (1) of the (6) that were made in 40-60 WCF (unfortunately no longer 100% factory original). Apparently Leroy found the 32 WCF Carbine.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 19, 2006
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Bert H. said
steve004 said
Bert –
Of the 20 special order carbines, are any known to still exist?
As I mentioned, (3) of the (10) that were exported to Australia have been found, and I found (1) of the (6) that were made in 40-60 WCF (unfortunately no longer 100% factory original). Apparently Leroy found the 32 WCF Carbine.
Bert
Yes, LeRoy had the .32 WCF Carbine – that was 40 years ago.
A larger caliber SRC would be very cool.
December 9, 2002
Online
steve004 said
Bert H. said
steve004 said
Bert –
Of the 20 special order carbines, are any known to still exist?
As I mentioned, (3) of the (10) that were exported to Australia have been found, and I found (1) of the (6) that were made in 40-60 WCF (unfortunately no longer 100% factory original). Apparently Leroy found the 32 WCF Carbine.
Bert
Yes, LeRoy had the .32 WCF Carbine – that was 40 years ago.
A larger caliber SRC would be very cool.
I plan on shooting a Deer at our PA, camp/farm/family property, with this .44 wcf, caliber, 16 inch “TRAPPER”!
Tony
