I picked up a Win. Hi Wall this weekend, and have some questions, that hopefully some advanced Win. collector could help with. The gun is a very early gun, with octagon top receiver, and cross pinned firing pin. It is also a pistol grip, checkered, XX stocks. The pistol grip is the early style, without grip cap, but here's my question. In the bottom of the grip cap I usually see a ebony "V" insert on these, but this one has an insert that looks more like a the boy scout's logo? More of a spear shaped, and in comparing it to the ebony insert, it is narrower in the middle, and appears to be original. Has anyone seen such an insert?
Second question; the single set trigger doesn't work, and it appears the trigger spring is not right? It is flat, and I thought they were supposed to curve upwards? I checked DeHaas, and his pictures show a upward curve. The parts are all there in the trigger group, and are moving freely, so I think this spring is wrong. Is the spring supposed to curve up?
Finall, the screws in the Swiss buttplate are buggered pretty badly. Any source for these buttplate screws? I've found the other screws, but not the buttplate screws.
Thanks for your help!-Vall

Gee Vall, You're just full of questions.

First, congratulations on the find.  You don't mention the caliber, but I assume from the rest of the description it's probably something big.

I'm not familiar with the fleur de lis ("boy scout's logo") pattern insert instead of the plain ebony wedge being a factory option... I've never seen it in any of the books on Winchesters nor encountered it in any specimens I have seen, but if the rifle is that early, there may have been some variants that just didn't pan out as worth putting into production, and of course the extra work of inlaying that shape may have been deemed not worth the return.  BTW, how is the stock checkered? There were several patterns that were used in the earlier ones, one of which also had a fleur de lis pattern incorporated.

Your SST problem should be a little easier to deal with.  Yes, there is supposed to be a relatively stout spring with an upward curve that is mounted on the lower tang and bears up against the knock off block that is pushed by the unset trigger or released by the action of the set trigger.  The trigger as you describe it should work fine unset, but there is no upward force on the knock off to trip the sear from set mode.  I believe that most of the standard springs early on were light thin spring stock resembling clock spring while the later ones and the ones for SST were a heavier, forged spring.  You can get replacements for them from Ballard Rifle Co, I think.  The same is true of the butt plate screws.  I have gotten them from a couple of sources... in fact Ken Hurst recently mentioned that someone in the stock making trade is now having them made up special, but since you need to contact Ballard, it would be just as easy to get a couple from them.  Failing in that, I have also gotten both of these parts, spring and screws, from GPC/Numrich in the past, but they are at best cumbersome and unpredictable to deal with on antique parts.

Hope this helps Vall, and congratulations again on your latest buy.

Froggie 

PS  Is there a marking under the barrel that indicates the rifle may have been a factory upgrade?  That cross pinned breech block was VERY early, and I was thinking that most of those rifles were more likely to be of the plain sporter configuration.  Look for extra markings that are hidden by the fore end or on the side of the trigger tang.  JPP was one of the guys in the "custom shop."

hey MM

looks like you got your answer on the trigger as far as your pistol grip goes i have only seen the v style ebony inlet 

hows things going for you  byron and i have been real busy this season but we took last night off and went to a steak fry in my street rod its a 1923 for model T with a 283 power pac 4 speed and posi of coarse a mustang thought he was going to take me when i dumped the clutch and the front end come off the ground i think he changed his mind

and yes i am into cars too

rafter-7   chad

Val, that sure is a pretty Rifle. I think it is factory. During the first year Winchester kind of evolved the 1885. I have two Octagon frame actions. One is serial #800 and has the small shank size, like a Lowall. The other is a Octagon Thick Side frame with the large shank, serial #40xx don't remember the actual number right now, but it also had the cross pinned firng pin as yours has. So it appears there were a lot of minor variations during startup. Yours appears to me to be factory finished so I would just relax and enjoy it. Regards, FITZ.

Hello Vall,

I just discovered this post... nice looking Special Sporting Rifle 8) What is a dedicated Marlin Man doing with a nice Winnie like that?

As for the insert in the pistol grip, that is the second one I have seen with that shape.

Have you sent me the information on this rifle yet? If not, I sure would appreciate it.

Are you going to Reno in March?

Best,
Bert

Vall,

OK, thanks.

I know what you mean about the dicey trip in March... heck it was dicey last year in April. It snowed on me for about 50 miles while I was on Hwy 84 headed for Susanville. I hope like heck it is not as bad in March.

Best,
Bert