Recently acquired a hiwall in 20 guage.  Does anyone have any idea how many were made.  Can't find any production figures in any of my Winchester books.

Thanks for the info Vall.  My books show that most of them carry the SN-110,00 to 115,000.  Mine is 114XXX and made in 1919.  I don't believe i have ever seen one before either although I knew they were made.  I doubt if there were more than a couple thousand produced if that.   

Len

I think I saw one on one of the vendors tables at the last OCGA show, but  maybe its just another BF.
DWS

Hello Fellows,

Please allow me to clear up a number of misconceptions concerning this topic.

As some of you know, I have conducted a lot of research on the Model 1885 for the reference book that I am slowly writing. To that end, I can positively state the following;

1. Winchester cataloged the high-wall shotgun in the years 1914 - 1916 only.

2. The serial number range that they were manufactured in is very tight, with all guns appearing in the 113,700 - 114, 900 range (with the exception of just one gun that is in the 111,500 range).

3. I have personally had my hands on nearly (30) of them, I own one, and I have the statistical information on a total of (33) of them.

4. They were offered as both a solid frame and a Takedown, with the Takedown being the more common... (22) of the (33) I have in my database are takedowns.

5. Every single one of them was made in 1914. (Madis' serial number listing for the Model 1885 is grossly inaccurate )

6. They were all made with a 26" nickle steel barrel, Full choke, and a 3-inch chamber. Modified and Cylinder bore choke was offered as a no cost special order option (I have not yet found one in either of those chokes).

7. The top of the frame ring (and Takedown extension ring) was always matted (an easy clue when trying to determine if one is factory original).

8. The loading channel behind the breech block was made larger to accommodate the large diameter of the 20 gauge rim.

As far as how many were made, my best guess is that Winchester manufactured about (600) of them. A fair number of them were indeed shipped to Australia (roughly 50% of the total production).

To Win92,

I would very much like to have the statisical details on your new (old) high-wall shotgun for my research data base.

Bert

boats wrote on Jun 4^th, 2007 at 8:51am:


You would lose that bet... in just the past six years, I have located a fair number of decent old Winchester Model 1885 singles shots (including a number of the high-wall shotguns) in Australia. I have made contact with a good number of Winchester collectors in various parts of Australia (three of which are diehard Model 1885 collectors, all of which are now personal acquaintances), and I have even purchased a few Model 1885s from A.A.A.A.  Just last year (May 2006), I rescued/repatriated a very nice high-wall in 50-95 W.C.F. from Australia... go to this link for pictures - (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Also, take note that I have a solid frame high-wall shotgun pictured in that link... which I also got out of Australia .

Bert

boats wrote on Jun 4^th, 2007 at 2:06pm:


It is a topic that I should research a bit more, and thankfully with the contacts I have that are stretched out all over Australia, I should be able to come up with a reasonable conclusion. 

I frequently check what A.A.A.A. has to offer - (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) and I have bought two high-walls from them thus far.

Bert