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According to John Campbell’s first volume of the Winchester Single Shot he states that these guns were first announced in the 1914 Winchester Catalog. He goes on to state that the takedown was first offered in 1916. When I put in the serial number of my takedown in When was My Gun Made it comes back as 1913?
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Chuck,
The information John Campbell published is not accurate in regards to the 20-Ga high-wall shotguns. To start with, he was apparently unaware of the Polishing Room records. The vast majority of the 20-Ga high-walls were all made in 1913. Winchester first cataloged them in 1914, and last catalogued them in 1916. The 2nd one of them in my survey (serial no. 113699) is a Take Down.
Currently, I have (87) of them documented in my research survey, (84) of which were manufactured in 1913. Of the (87) in my survey, Take Downs account for (50) of the total. Based on the survey results thus far, Winchester manufactured approximately (800) total high-wall 20-Ga shotguns.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Chuck,The information John Campbell published is not accurate in regards to the 20-Ga high-wall shotguns. To start with, he was apparently unaware of the Polishing Room records. The vast majority of the 20-Ga high-walls were all made in 1913. Winchester first cataloged them in 1914, and last catalogued them in 1916. The 2nd one of them in my survey (serial no. 113699) is a Take Down.
Currently, I have (87) of them documented in my research survey, (84) of which were manufactured in 1913. Of the (87) in my survey, Take Downs account for (50) of the total. Based on the survey results thus far, Winchester manufactured approximately (800) total high-wall 20-Ga shotguns.
Bert
Thanks Bert. Campbell’s book came out in 1995. I first learned about the polishing room records when the info was posted by David Kennedy in the Winchester News Letters we used to get. I know I have that copy but I don’t know where I put all of them? I actually saw the gun yesterday. It is better than what I expected. To all I must confess, I violated one of my rules. For the first time in my collecting career I bought a gun from an auction house that I never had seen in person. I paid too much but these guns are really hard to find for sale. Bert, Little John told me that he has only sold one of these ever and this one may be the one he sold years before.
Did you have the one I bought in your survey already?
What is the serial number?
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Chuck said
113930 it is the one I emailed you about not long ago.
Yes, I did have it. It is a June 1913 production gun, and is the 16th Take Down in my survey by serial number.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert, I pulled the wood today and this is what I found.
The barrel is marked 196 over a F—- (line), Triangle with a 1 inside, VP in an oval and MNS. Underside of the lower tang is marked with either a 6 or 9 and a triangle with a 1 inside. Underside of the upper tang is marked 4/8, a square with a 1 inside and a triangle with something inside. The left side of the upper tang is marked 20. The outside face of the takedown mechanism is marked 005 and a triangle. The stock has a triangle with a 1 inside in the lower inlet and a square with a 1 inside in the upper inlet.
I don’t know how to take down the barrel. I slid the catch out but can’t budge the barrel. I did not want to force it. On second attempt the latch came out and launched the spring and cap. Took some time but I found it.
Chuck,
This may be a silly question, but did you open the action (to clear the extractor from the barrel slot) before trying to twist that barrel assembly?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Chuck,This may be a silly question, but did you open the action (to clear the extractor from the barrel slot) before trying to twist that barrel assembly?
Bert
Yes. It just does not want to twist. It really doesn’t matter if I can take it apart. It is nice and tight now and I guess it will stay that way. Are the markings just the usual ones?
Chuck,
Use some Kroil on the Take Down joint…and Yes, the markings are typical.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert,
I just acquired a nice 20 Ga 1885 highwall takedown shot gun. I hope you can add it to your survey if you don’t already have it listed. The Serial Number is 13865. I believe it was made in 1913 but I would like to know what month the serial number was applied if you have access to that info. As this thread originated 5 years ago I am wondering if based on your ongoing survey if it shows the number is holding at around 800 20 GA 1885’s made? Let me know if you need any additional information’
Thanks for your time,
Glenn
[email protected] said
Bert,I just acquired a nice 20 Ga 1885 highwall takedown shot gun. I hope you can add it to your survey if you don’t already have it listed. The Serial Number is 13865. I believe it was made in 1913 but I would like to know what month the serial number was applied if you have access to that info. As this thread originated 5 years ago I am wondering if based on your ongoing survey if it shows the number is holding at around 800 20 GA 1885’s made? Let me know if you need any additional information’
Thanks for your time,
Glenn
Glenn,
I will assume that the serial number is 113865 versus 13865. If so, I do have it listed in the survey (PR date 6/23/1913). Currently I have (99) high-wall 20-ga shotguns documented in the survey, and the current extrapolation indicates a total production of (776).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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