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LOT 3065
Rare and Fresh Antique
Special Order Casehardened Winchester Model 1885 High Wall Thick Side Single Shot Extra-Length Rifle in Extremely Scarce Documented .45 Express with Factory Letter - Serial no. 11454, 45 express cal., 32 inch
octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The Model 1885
is based on designs patented by John Moses Browning in 1879. Browning’s design was strong and
capable of handling more powerful cartridges than Winchester’s repeating rifles and allowed the company to compete against Remington and others producing powerful single shot rifles. The .45-125 Winchester Express
cartridge was introduced in 1886 and only available by special order and discontinued after only a few years making rifles chambered for this long express cartridge true rarities. The factory letter lists this rifle in .45 Express with a 32 inch
long, #3 weight, octagon barrel and plain trigger and as received in the warehouse on June 25, 1887, and as shipping out two days later in order 18635. In addition to the features noted in the factory letter, this rifle has a globe front sight,
the two-line address ahead of the adjustable sporting rear sight, “45 EX.” on top of the barrel at the breech, “3” on the bottom of the barrel ahead of
the forearm and under the forearm, “3 45 EX & VP” on the bottom at the breech, a long range tang sight on the upper tang along with two additional tapped screws,
casehardened frame, script serial number on the lower tang, and smooth walnut forearm with contrasting insert in the tip and straight wrist stock with crescent steel buttplate. CONDITION: Fine with 90% strong original blue on the barrel showing mostly high edge wear. 40% original case colors on the frame, some minor spotting, general minor scratches and
general minor overall wear. The wood is good and has mild handling wear, some general minor dings and scratches throughout, a thin horizontal crack coming off the rear of the lower tang, and a crack on the left side of the forearm at the rear. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 9,000 - 14,000
LOT 3066
Attractive Documented
Special Order Winchester Model 1885 High Wall Takedown
Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 108120, 32-40 WCF cal., 30 inch octagon
special order features. The included factory letter lists the rifle in .32-40 caliber, with a 30 inch No. 4 octagon
barrel, Schuetzen set trigger, checkered stock with pistol grip, helm buttplate, palm rest, cheek piece, mid-range Vernier peep sight, wind gauge
front sight, “no level and no rear seat”, takedown, and “Laudensach Model at 200 yards”. It is currently unknown what the final notation on the letter is in reference to, but it may regard some sort of factory sighting/zeroing of the
rifle. There are Winchester factory oval proofs marked barrel and receiver at the breech. The two-line address and patent date are marked on
the top flat of the No. 4 weight barrel, as well as the caliber marking at the breech. The serial number is marked on the lower tang along with “A”. It is fitted with a windgauge/globe front sight, no rear sight dovetail, and a mid-range Vernier peep sight mounted on the upper tang. The receiver is fitted with double set
triggers and a hand rest and its base are mounted on the forearm. It is mounted with a checkered Schnabel tip forearm with ebony insert and a checkered pistol grip stock with hard rubber grip cap, shadow line cheek piece and a “helm” buttplate.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 95% plus of the refinished blue with some very light thinning on the takedown collar and a few scattered light handling marks. 90% of the vibrant case colors remain on the lever, breech block, and hammer with the balance a smooth grey patina. The professionally refinished wood is also very fine with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp recut checkering. Mechanically excellent.
48 Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
bbl., blue finish, highly figured checkered walnut stock. Manufactured in 1909, this Schuetzen style Winchester Model 1885 is documented with a plethora of desirable