Original Item: Only One Available. While the idea of Winchester "Repeating" Arms Co. making a single shot rifle is somewhat ironic, the rapidly growing "match shooting" market was too lucrative to for the company ignore. Rather than design a new gun from scratch, Thomas G. Bennett, Vice-President and General Manager, looked for a patented single shot design that the company could produce. What he found when he traveled to Ogden, Utah however was far more than just a good single shot rifle design: He found John Moses Browning, arguably the most influential gun designer in United States history. He had designed his the single shot rifle at the age of 23 in 1878, and was granted his first patent for this design October 7th, 1879. His 1883 meeting with Bennett would begin a 20 year collaboration that revolutionized the design of the Winchester Repeating Rifle, as well as their shotguns. It was the design for one of the latter that eventually led to his falling out with Winchester management, after which he worked with other companies, both in the United States and in Europe.

Browning would go on to design numerous civilian and military firearms, eventually receiving 128 patents over the course of his career, of which the single shot rifle was only the first. Many of the designs and improvements that Browning made continue to be in use today, and there are few firearms designers who have had such a wide ranging influence worldwide.

Browning's patented design was slightly modified by Winchester, mainly to make the breech seal better, and was released as the Model 1885. This was available in various different calibers, and featured a "Low Wall" receiver with a fully exposed hammer for lower power cartridges, while the guns chambered for higher power cartridge had a "High Wall" receiver with much more reinforcement behind the breech block, which mostly hid the hammer.

This wonderful Winchester Model 1885 single shot match shooting rifle is a "Low Wall" type, chambered in .22 Winchester Centerfire caliber, correctly marked with 22 W.C.F. over the chamber. This cartridge was intended for target shooting and possibly varmint hunting, and was introduced specifically for the Model 1885 rifle. It features a standard 26" octagonal barrel, fitted with a flip up front "globe" sight and iconic "buckhorn" rear adjustable sight. The serial number is 29705, indicating it was made during 1888, one of about 13,000 produced that year. It was most likely produced at the end of the year, as 1888 production ended at serial 30571.

The stamped markings on top are still clear, reading:-

The bottom of the action just rear of the trigger bears the PAT. OCT. 7TH 79. marking for John Browning's patent on the action design, the FIRST of many that he would receive over his career. Condition of the rifle is very good, with the metalwork showing a nice mottled patina, faded from the original blued and case-hardened finish. The only place where the original finish is retained is under the fore stock. There is a bit of peppering in areas, but no more serious oxidation, and we do not see any signs of serious restoration or refinishing, just how we like to see these antique match shooting rifles.

The wood stocks are in very good condition, showing the lovely red brown color of aged oiled aged walnut. There is a bit of light wear such as scratches and small dents on the fore stock, and the butt stock is even better, showing just a few small dents and stains. It is fitted with a crescent butt plate, which does not have a storage compartment, typical for this model.

The falling block action works well, with no deficiencies noted, and a crisp dry fire. The ejector presents correctly, and the action is smooth without any sticking. The bore is in very good condition, showing a mostly bright finish with crisp lands and grooves. There is a bit of wear visible, as well as some past oxidation and fouling, how cleaned away. Definitely a very nice bore, probably rating 8 out of 10.

A lovely example of what some consider one of John Browning's greatest firearm designs! This is an iconic gun with a great honest used look, ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1888
Caliber: .22 Winchester
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 30 Inches
Overall Length: 46 Inches
Action type: Lever Action Falling Block
Feed System: Single Shot

The Winchester Model 1885 is a single-shot rifle with a falling-block action. It was principally designed by John Browning. Two models were produced, the Low Wall and the High Wall.

History
In 1878, the 23-year-old Browning designed a falling-block single-shot rifle, for which he was granted a patent the following year. Browning and his brother commenced making the rifles by hand in their second-floor workshop in Ogden, Utah, with limited success.

In 1883, Thomas G. Bennett, Vice-President and General Manager of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, traveled to Ogden and negotiated the purchase of the single-shot design, as well as the prototype of what would become the Model 1886 lever-action – the beginning of the fruitful 20-year Winchester–Browning collaboration. Winchester's engineers made some improvements to Browning's design, including angling the block at six degrees to create a positive breech seal, and released the rifle as the Model 1885. Two popular models were made, the so-called Low Wall which showed an exposed hammer, firing less powerful cartridges, and the so-called High Wall for stronger cartridges whose steel frame covered most of the firing hammer when viewed from the side; but both were officially marketed by Winchester as the Single Shot Rifle.

It was produced principally to satisfy the demands of the growing sport of long-range "Match Shooting", which opened at Creedmoor, New York, on June 21, 1872. Target/Match shooting was extremely popular in the US from about 1871 until about 1917, enjoying a status similar to golf today, and the Winchester company, which had built its reputation on repeating firearms, had in 1885 challenged the single-shot giants of Sharps, Remington, Stevens, Maynard, Ballard et al., not only entering the competition, but excelling at it, with Major Ned H. Roberts (inventor of the .257 Roberts cartridge) describing the Model 1885 Single Shot as "the most reliable, strongest, and altogether best single shot rifle ever produced."

Winchester produced nearly 140,000 Single Shot rifles from 1885 to 1920, and it was found that the falling-block Model 1885 had been built with one of the strongest actions known at that time. The falling block action was so strong that the Winchester Company used it to test fire newly created rifle cartridges. To satisfy the needs of the shooting and hunting public, the Model 1885 Single Shot was eventually produced in more calibers than any other Winchester rifle. Winchester also produced a large number of Single Shots in .22 caliber for the US Army as a marksmanship training rifle, the "Winder musket."

Note: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are not able to ship to the United Kingdom. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

Note: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre in the UK.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.