Winchester 1885 - tacky

Tharjoe said:
Very odd front sight on that rifle. Rear sight looks too far back, too. I'd wager that is not the original barrel.
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I looked at that as well, looks very much like my banded Brno front sight that is on my custom built Ruger #3.
Hard to know however unless a closer look was to be had.
I naturally assumed most 1885's would have a dove tailed front sight.
Cat
 
iron cat said:
Original 1885 in .303 British?
Wow, never knew it was offered in that chambering, I'd be all over that like a fat kid on a Smartie!
According to the Cody Museum only 25 documented 1885's in factory chambering of .303 Brit have been "lettered "
Native heritage? oh well......
Cat
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I just looked it up. According to Bert Hartman from the Winchester Collectors Society there are a total of 25 documented originals in 303 British. But I don't think this is one of them. To me, the wood looks like it came from a Winder Musket .22LR.

Chris.
 
It's so hard to find 1885's that haven't been messed with. A while ago I thought I'd bought one of the very early 25-35 highwalls. It's serial number woulds have put it in the first year of that cartridge, but it turned out to have originally been a 38-55 :) :).

Almost every one you find has been messed with to some extent, just because they are so easy to wok on and swap parts I guess. But those are generally neat rifles anyway. I bought one in 32-40 that has been messed with a little. It looks like someone took the Swiss buttplate off of a different rifle and put it on this one. Still original parts, but you can tell by the fact the wood fit isn't quite perfect. It's a really neat little offhand rifle.

Chris.
 
Gunlaker is right. Tough to find an 1885 that hasn't been monkeyed with. I also picked up one in 25-35 Winchester (with British proof marks, no less!) and much to my surprise on firing it for the first time, it had been reamed to 25-35 Ackley Improved. Sad, but after working up loads for it, it shoots like a laser beam!
 
gunlaker said:
It's so hard to find 1885's that haven't been messed with. A while ago I thought I'd bought one of the very early 25-35 highwalls. It's serial number woulds have put it in the first year of that cartridge, but it turned out to have originally been a 38-55 :) :).

Almost every one you find has been messed with to some extent, just because they are so easy to wok on and swap parts I guess. But those are generally neat rifles anyway. I bought one in 32-40 that has been messed with a little. It looks like someone took the Swiss buttplate off of a different rifle and put it on this one. Still original parts, but you can tell by the fact the wood fit isn't quite perfect. It's a really neat little offhand rifle.

Chris.
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There have been Bubah's messen with guns long before the phrase became common spoke.
(btw, I am not calling the above afore mentioned 303 British 1895 a Bubahed piece) For all I know, there may even be some historical Provence to its current state of affair.
I'm curious to what skwerl knows of its history can you add some historical info ?
Regards,
Rob
 
dan belisle said:
The guy who played Nestor was uncle to a friend of mine growing up. Funny guy. - dan
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Wow brings back memories...my wifes step dad was a cousin to Donnie and I spent a few evenings at family get-togethers with him & Barb ....if you think his "published stuff' was funny, when his censor's got a little soaked with alcohol the filter lid got ripped off big time. He would make a sailor blush
 
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