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August 28, 2024
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Winchester Model 1885 High Wall, 30″ Octagon barrel, in .40-70 Sharps Straight. It’s an antique, date of manufacture April 22, 1887. It has a replacement Winchester barrel in its original caliber. The bore has been relined, and is near perfect.
The stock has plenty of dings and some cracks that do not appear to me to be structural. The forend has no breaks, but seems pretty fragile in the thin areas where it wraps around the barrel. No real metal finish remaining – see photos.
.40-70 SS dies are readily available from RCBS. Even available on Amazon!
Offered as a shooter grade antique gun at $2500 + $100 shipping in continental USA
USPS Money Orders are welcome, contact me about other payment forms.
I also have two boxes of Buffalo Arms ammo, of which my Dad and his friend shot four rounds, so there’s 36 rounds loaded, 4 pieces of brass. I will offer these to the buyer for $165 shipped.
I’m in Southwest Montana and would love to sell in-person.
Cross-posted and for sale locally.
August 28, 2024
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Feel free to make me an offer. I’ll deal. I’m primarily interested in cash, but may consider a shooter-grade model 92 or 94, a S&W Model 29, or a Browning Auto 5 12 gauge as a partial trade.
August 28, 2024
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It’s been a while. This is still available. Make me an offer.
September 22, 2011
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If you are seriously interested in selling this, you need to put a $1200 or best offer and thank your lucky stars if someone offers you $1000 for it. That even might be a considerable stretch given it contains little to no case colouring and bluing left.
It has a replaced and refined barrel and it’s in a caliber that would be difficult to shoot affordably.
Sorry, but sometimes reality isn’t what you want it to be.
August 28, 2024
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mrcvs said
If you are seriously interested in selling this, you need to put a $1200 or best offer and thank your lucky stars if someone offers you $1000 for it. That even might be a considerable stretch given it contains little to no case colouring and bluing left.
It has a replaced and refined barrel and it’s in a caliber that would be difficult to shoot affordably.
Sorry, but sometimes reality isn’t what you want it to be.
Thank for your input, although I would have appreciated that sort of reply more as a private message. I should clarify that the replacement barrel was replaced by Winchester early in the life of this rifle. I don’t know how much of a difference that makes to a buyer.
My price was chosen by consulting Bert H. of this site, who also helped me determine the date of manufacture and the details of the barrel replacement. That said, I also realize that just because Bert suggests a price, doesn’t mean that a buyer will appear who is ready to pay that price. I am certainly willing to deal and to acknowledge reality. That said, I am in no rush to sell. Therefore, I will keep your advice in mind but will probably try some things out before I drop the price that far.
In the meantime, I will consider any good faith offer.
Please see this thread for more info on the rifle: https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1885-high-wall-in-40-70-s-s/
April 15, 2005
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Do you still have the reloading tool and bullet mold?
Your old high-wall is easily worth $2,000 is just parts. Original fully complete & functional high-wall actions are worth $1,200 all by themself.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
September 22, 2011
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I based my evaluation based on recent sales. These three examples have more condition and are in generally more desirable chamberings and didn’t bring outrageous prices. Also, replacement components not present.
Hammer price plus buyer’s premium $1573
Hammwr price plus buyer’s premium $1936
Hammwr price plus buyer’s premium $2783
This doesn’t mean I’m right but examples of recent sales. You can still get a lot of Winchester 1885 Single Shot rifle for not a tremendous amount of money:
April 15, 2005
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mrcvs said
I based my evaluation based on recent sales. These three examples have more condition and are in generally more desirable chamberings and didn’t bring outrageous prices. Also, replacement components not present.
https://live.amoskeagauction.com/lot-details/index/catalog/135/lot/102245/Winchester-Model-1885-High-Wall-Rifle?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F135%3Fpage%3D1%26view%3Dlist%26catm%3D2%26order%3Dorder_num%26xclosed%3D0%26featured%3D0%26key%3DWinchester%2B1885
Hammer price plus buyer’s premium $1573
https://live.amoskeagauction.com/lot-details/index/catalog/135/lot/101234/Winchester-Model-1885-Low-Wall-Sporting-Rifle?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F135%3Fpage%3D1%26view%3Dlist%26catm%3D2%26order%3Dorder_num%26xclosed%3D0%26featured%3D0%26key%3DWinchester%2B1885
Hammwr price plus buyer’s premium $1936
https://live.amoskeagauction.com/lot-details/index/catalog/135/lot/101208/Fine-Winchester-Model-1885-Low-Wall-Rifle?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F135%3Fpage%3D1%26view%3Dlist%26catm%3D2%26order%3Dorder_num%26xclosed%3D0%26featured%3D0%26key%3DWinchester%2B1885
Hammwr price plus buyer’s premium $2783
This doesn’t mean I’m right but examples of recent sales. You can still get a lot of Winchester 1885 Single Shot rifle for not a tremendous amount of money:
It is unrealistic to compare sales prices of small bore low-wall Single Shot rifles to a large bore high-wall rifle. It is almost an “apples vs. oranges” comparison.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
September 22, 2011
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Bert H. said
mrcvs said
I based my evaluation based on recent sales. These three examples have more condition and are in generally more desirable chamberings and didn’t bring outrageous prices. Also, replacement components not present.
https://live.amoskeagauction.com/lot-details/index/catalog/135/lot/102245/Winchester-Model-1885-High-Wall-Rifle?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F135%3Fpage%3D1%26view%3Dlist%26catm%3D2%26order%3Dorder_num%26xclosed%3D0%26featured%3D0%26key%3DWinchester%2B1885
Hammer price plus buyer’s premium $1573
https://live.amoskeagauction.com/lot-details/index/catalog/135/lot/101234/Winchester-Model-1885-Low-Wall-Sporting-Rifle?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F135%3Fpage%3D1%26view%3Dlist%26catm%3D2%26order%3Dorder_num%26xclosed%3D0%26featured%3D0%26key%3DWinchester%2B1885
Hammwr price plus buyer’s premium $1936
https://live.amoskeagauction.com/lot-details/index/catalog/135/lot/101208/Fine-Winchester-Model-1885-Low-Wall-Rifle?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F135%3Fpage%3D1%26view%3Dlist%26catm%3D2%26order%3Dorder_num%26xclosed%3D0%26featured%3D0%26key%3DWinchester%2B1885
Hammwr price plus buyer’s premium $2783
This doesn’t mean I’m right but examples of recent sales. You can still get a lot of Winchester 1885 Single Shot rifle for not a tremendous amount of money:
It is unrealistic to compare sales prices of small bore low-wall Single Shot rifles to a large bore high-wall rifle. It is almost an “apples vs. oranges” comparison.
Bert
Okay, understood. I guess I tend to value condition more than whether or not a rifle is high wall or low wall.
Yes, in today’s market, I agree parts alone would be at least $1,000, however.
August 28, 2024
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Bert H. said
Do you still have the reloading tool and bullet mold?
Your old high-wall is easily worth $2,000 is just parts. Original fully complete & functional high-wall actions are worth $1,200 all by themself.
Bert
No, I sold you the tool and bullet mold! 
Thanks for the input, both of you. Very helpful.
April 15, 2005
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Cossack said
Bert H. said
Do you still have the reloading tool and bullet mold?
Your old high-wall is easily worth $2,000 is just parts. Original fully complete & functional high-wall actions are worth $1,200 all by themself.
Bert
No, I sold you the tool and bullet mold!
Thanks for the input, both of you. Very helpful.
I forget everything that I buy, especially if it was more than 6-months ago!
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
Online
Cossack-
I feel confident your patience will be rewarded, not many folks understand this old rifle. All you need to do is reach an informed buyer. Easier said than done, of course.
Mike
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