1885 Winchesters - 03/25/24
What are 1885 Winchesters fetching theses days? Have 2 that a friends widow maybe looking to parts with. Believe one was in 25 20 the other 32 40.
Re: 1885 Winchesters - 03/25/24
Couple pictures of the second.
Re: 1885 Winchesters - 03/25/24
Condition is everything. Caliber matters as the larger calibers usually fetch more. Rarity will come in to play as will different and additional options will. Barrel length, set trigger, Original sights, special options, vs. replaced parts, etc................Serial numbers would be nice to check mfg. years. Better pictures would help out tremendously. Just by the pics. shown I see a set trigger on the first one and possibly the second one as the rear Lyman tang sight on the first one was probably added later. Both appear to be shooter grade and by looking on the most common auction sites such as Gun broker and Guns International you can get an idea of what your asking taking into account what their listed as and selling for vs. how long they've been posted and asking price vs. actual sell $$$! IMO!
HS 58
HS 58
Re: 1885 Winchesters - 03/25/24
The 32 calliber is a Serial number 8xx. The 38 caliber is 511xx.
Re: 1885 Winchesters - 03/26/24
The .32 Caliber was mfg. in the second year of production, 1886, and the .38 Caliber was mfg. in 1891. Both are panel sided,(milled), and not the more desirable, to some,
"thick sided receiver". What's the length of the barrel on the .32 Caliber rifle? Under the barrel and in front of the wood forearm is a barrel size number. Like a 1, or 2, as this possibly looks to be a maybe longer than standard barrel,(30 inch). Interestingly enough the .32 caliber made in 1886 has the standard Case Color hardening finished receiver and the .38 caliber was made in 1901 when the first blued receivers we're being produced on the model 1885 S.S. Rifle, along with other Winchester models. I wasn't sure about the 25-20 caliber in your original post as it was first developed in 1895 for the model 1892 rifle. Winchester only mfg. 58 rifles,(25-20 WCF), in the 25-20 total production,(extremely rare). The 25-20 S.S. (7585 total prod.), was a little more common. With that being said I'd like to see pics. of the caliber stamping and the Winchester logo address stamp, if possible. Winchester would change their caliber markings during production on the model 1885 as time permitted. Cartridge development and black powder, to smokeless powder came in to play here. 3 different barrel markings were used for the .32-40 caliber. Is the .38 caliber, .38 WCF. stamped? There are several .38 caliber cartridges that Winchester used. The model 1885 has the most used variants as far as calibers of any rifle that Winchester produced, (98 total).
HS 58
"thick sided receiver". What's the length of the barrel on the .32 Caliber rifle? Under the barrel and in front of the wood forearm is a barrel size number. Like a 1, or 2, as this possibly looks to be a maybe longer than standard barrel,(30 inch). Interestingly enough the .32 caliber made in 1886 has the standard Case Color hardening finished receiver and the .38 caliber was made in 1901 when the first blued receivers we're being produced on the model 1885 S.S. Rifle, along with other Winchester models. I wasn't sure about the 25-20 caliber in your original post as it was first developed in 1895 for the model 1892 rifle. Winchester only mfg. 58 rifles,(25-20 WCF), in the 25-20 total production,(extremely rare). The 25-20 S.S. (7585 total prod.), was a little more common. With that being said I'd like to see pics. of the caliber stamping and the Winchester logo address stamp, if possible. Winchester would change their caliber markings during production on the model 1885 as time permitted. Cartridge development and black powder, to smokeless powder came in to play here. 3 different barrel markings were used for the .32-40 caliber. Is the .38 caliber, .38 WCF. stamped? There are several .38 caliber cartridges that Winchester used. The model 1885 has the most used variants as far as calibers of any rifle that Winchester produced, (98 total).
HS 58