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LOT 58
Engraved Documented Special Order Deluxe Winchester Model 1885 High Wall Single Shot Schuetzen Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 81654, 38-55 WCF cal., 34 inch
octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, deluxe walnut stock. Manufactured in 1898. The top barrel flat ahead of the rear sight is marked “-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO.
NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.-” and “38-55” at the breech. The serial number is marked on the lower tang with the patent date marking directly behind the trigger. The rifle features a 34 inch #3 octagon barrel with a spirit
level globe front sight and mid-range Vernier tang mounted sight. There is a factory installed filler block in the rear sight dovetail. Double Schuetzen set triggers, casehardened receiver and blue barrel and lever. The lever has a
spur and is lightly engraved on the front. It is in this writers opinion that the subtle yet elegant engraving on the lever spur
was done at the factory but was omitted from the letter. Mounted with a deluxe, nicely figured checkered walnut Schnabel forearm with ebony forend insert and palm rest, and pistol grip stock with hard rubber Winchester grip cap, Dutch cheek piece and nickel plated
Schuetzen buttplate. The accompanying factory letter verifies the rifle configuration, caliber, #3 34 inch octagon barrel, Schuetzen set trigger, checkered
pistol grip stock, mid-range Vernier and wind gauge sights, no rear sight, Dutch cheek piece, spur lever (engraving not called out, palm rest and that it was received in the warehouse
on July 15, 1899 and shipped out on order number 81654, July 17, 1899.
CONDITION: Very fine. The barrel retains 60% thin original blue finish mixed with smooth plum patina on the balance. The receiver retains 70% original case colors with a smooth gray patina on the balance. The lever retains 40% original blue finish with a smooth mottled brown patina on the balance. The buttplate retains 98% original nickel finish with high point wear. The markings are clear. The wood is excellent with a small amount of crazing on the right side of the stock, some minor dings and dents, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A very desirable deluxe special order Winchester Model 1885 Schuetzen High Wall rifle.
Provenance: The Gateway Collection.
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000
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