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LOT 3056
Engraved 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: 12,000 - 18,000
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