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LOT 1044
Fine Antique Winchester Model 1885 High Wall Single Shot Rifle in .40-82 W.C.F. - Serial no. 47219, 40-82 WCF cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Introduced in 1885, Winchester’s .40-82 cartridge was designed to handle North America’s big game and succeeded in earning a positive reputation with hunters of elk and moose and was also used for hunting bears. This example was manufactured in 1891, when much of the
Western Frontier remained wild, and is a very good example of a “no frills” big game hunting rifle. The top flat of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address and the caliber marking is at the breech. The “3” barrel weight marking is on the bottom flat of the barrel just ahead of the forearm. The lower tang is marked with the
patent date and serial number. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and an elevation adjustable buckhorn/sporting rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth, Schnabel tip forearm with ebony insert and a straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% of the faded original blue finish and 30% of the vibrant original case colors, mostly in sheltered areas, with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, some patches of light pitting at the muzzle, and a patch of minor file/tool marks on the top flat of the barrel. The lightly sanded and reoiled wood is also fine with some scattered light handling marks.
Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
Documented Early Production Three Digit Serialized Special Order Flat Side Winchester Model 1885 High Wall Single Shot Musket in Scarce .45 Sharps 2 4/10 with Factory letter - Serial no. 584, 45 Sharps 2 4/10 cal., 32 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This very early production flat sided Winchester Model 1885 High Wall musket is chambered in scarce .45-90 Sharps and would have made for the perfect companion to hunt big game such as moose, bison and elk. In “The Winchester Single-Shot” author John Campbell identified .45-90 Sharps among the rarest calibers of the Model 1885: “These very rare chamberings, among others, are known to exist. Virtually all were unavailable in normal production. Others were available on an extremely limited basis or through custom order” (see page 97). The accompanying factory letter states the musket was received in the warehouse on January 16, 1886, shipped on January 16, 1886 and shipped again on September 27, 1889 and lists the following features: 32 inch no. 1 round barrel in .45 2 4/10 caliber, plain trigger (currently a set trigger, like fitted when it was returned to the factory), military front and Hotchkiss military rear windgauge sights, Hotchkiss pattern musket forearm, “Swiveled,” and “R. Butt.” Early production features include the flat sided receiver, forearm without finger groove, and two barrel bands. The barrel is marked with the two-line Winchester address ahead of the rear sight and caliber designation (“45 SHARPS 2 4/10”) at the breech. The upper tang is drilled and tapped for sight mounting. The lower tang has the patent date marking and serial number. The replacement buttstock is fitted with a shotgun type buttplate (the letter calls for “R.Butt.) CONDITION: Good, displaying a mottled gray patina of a well traveled firearm. The revarnished wood is very good with scattered minor handling marks. Set trigger needs work, otherwise action functions properly. A very early flat side Winchester Model 1885 High Wall musket in scarce .45-90 Sharps that saw authentic use. A Model 1885 in this configuration is missing from the most advanced collections. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1046
Excellent and Desirable Winchester Model 1885 High Wall Two-Band Musket in Scarce .22 LR - Serial no. 105688, 22 LR cal., 28 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1907, this is an outstanding example of a Winchester Model 1885 High Wall “two-band” musket chambered in the ever-desirable, .22 Long Rifle. These two-band muskets are less commonly encountered than their single band “Winder” counterparts, particularly in this caliber. This example is
marked with the standard two-line address and patent date on top of the barrel, with the “22 LONG R” caliber marking at the breech. The upper tang has the three-line patent date and trademark, while the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a pinned blade front sight, a military style folding ladder rear sight, sling swivels on both barrel bands as well as the bottom of the buttstock, and a cleaning rod. It is mounted with a smooth, musket-length forearm and straight grip stock with a military style buttplate. CONDITION: Excellent, retains 90% plus of the bright original blue finish and 80% of the slightly subdued case colors with some scattered light brown speckling on the receiver and some light high spot wear/scattered handling marks. The wood is also excellent with a few scattered light handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 1047 Antique Winchester Model 1885 Low Wall Single Shot Rifle in .22 Short - Serial no. 33924, 22 short cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1889 with standard markings. The No. 1 weight barrel is fitted with German silver blade front and elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sights. Mounted with a Schnabel tip forearm with ebony insert and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% plus of the original blue finish and 60% of the original case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily on edges and high spots. The wood is fine with a large gouge in the left of the forearm and otherwise scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection; Property of a Gentleman. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,250
LOT 1048 Antique Winchester Model 1885 High Wall Single Shot Rifle - Serial no. 66873, 40-82 WCF cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The receiver of this rifle was manufactured in 1894. There are Winchester factory oval proofs on the barrel and receiver at the breech, indicating that the rifle was returned to the factory for work c. 1905 or after, as well as an additional oval “P” proof on the barrel indicating that it is a factory made, replacement barrel. The top flat of the barrel otherwise has the standard two-line address and caliber marking at the breech. The lower tang is faintly marked with the patent date and serial number. It is fitted with a globe front sight with interior pin, rear sight dovetail filler, and a tang mounted long range peep sight. It is mounted with a smooth, Schnabel tip forearm with ebony insert and a straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 95% plus of the factory refurbished blue on the replacement barrel and 90% plus of the factory refinished blue on the remainder of the metal with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina, mostly on edges and high spots. The wood is very fine with a few minor dings on the bottom of the forearm and buttstock. Mechanically excellent.
LOT 1045
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500 53