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On a Winchester Letter for an 1886 rifle in .45/90 under sights: Winchester Express sights, W.H.V. – what does W H V stand for?
Something high velocity – Winchester – perhaps smokeless powder as opposed to BP??? date of the shipment is December 1914.
Regards
Alan
Online
Alan,
Winchester High Velocity, and yes, it indicates that the rifle was made specifically for smokeless and higher pressure loads. It also means that the barrel was Nickel Steel alloy versus the standard High Pressure steel. When Winchester began loading former black power cartridges (e.g. 44 WCF, 32-40, 38 WCF, 38-55, 45-70, 45-90, etc.) with smokeless powder, they loaded them to the same pressure and velocity as the black powder loads. Several years after smokeless loads became standard, Winchester introduced “W.H.V.” loads but with labels on the boxes specifying which model they were for. Specifically, the 38 WCF and 44 WCF were marked “For Model 1892 and Single Shot only”
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
When the W.H.V. is listed next to sights, doesn’t it means the sights are sighted in for high velocity loads?
steve004 said
When the W.H.V. is listed next to sights, doesn’t it means the sights are sighted in for high velocity loads?
Not exactly… what it means is that it has special W.H.V. sights on it. The height of the W.H.V. front sight is taller.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I believe that is correct. It is stated in the 1916 Winchester Catalog, that W. H. V., “requires a different adjustment of sights from regular cartridges.” RDB
Thanks Steve! Just remembered this box. 
rogertherelic said
I believe that is correct. It is stated in the 1916 Winchester Catalog, that W. H. V., “requires a different adjustment of sights from regular cartridges.” RDB
I’ve also seen boxes of Winchester High Velocity cartridges that had an added sticker (white) pasted on – to the effect that they were high velocity cartridges and a sight adjustment would be needed.
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