I recently bought a lot of parts at Rock Island auction, and in the lot was a set of pistol grip schuetzen triggers for a high wall. The serial number on this set is 139712. I was under the impression that the numbers stopped at 139700. Campbell says in one spot that he has seen #139710, but then goes on to say that most experts say the 700 number. Any coments on this would be appreciated. The triggers appear new and don't appear to have ever been used. Could this set be the last ones made/
Thanks for any help, Tony

Hello Tony,

I haven't posted on this forum in quite some time (other forums have kept me very busy).

In regards to your find and question concerning the serial number, I have discovered that the Winchester Model 1885 serial numbers reached 140000 (I had the rifle in my hands at the 2002 Las Vegas Winter Antique Arms Show).   That said, "regular" production ended in the low 139,700 serial range (I have seen serial number 139724) in June of 1920. However, Winchester continued to build a small number 1885s up through 1923 for customers who wanted one. It was in December of 1923 when Winchester finally pulled the plug, and sold all remaining parts on hand to R.F. Sedgley.

Bert

Hello Tony,

You are quite welcome. The last time I spoke with Charlie was last last November (while I was at the Big Reno show). By good friend Bill A. stops and stays with Charlie in Angels Camp on his way to the show, and brings what is left of Charlies collection of 1885s (we have been selling them off for him for the past few years now).

Concerning the Schuetzen DST tang that you picked up, are the serial number digits the standard block style and size as found on the earlier production guns, or are the digits noticeably smaller?

Bert

Hi Bert,
the numbers are the smaller size. I've sold off a lot of my 85's too, but always seem to be looking for more. I think it's just an obsession I can't seem to shake.
Tony

Jeff,
There was a bunch of 1885 stuff in the lot I bought. I'm still sorting through everything to see what I'm going to keep and what I'm going to sell. I'll probably keep the trigs though. I'm always building something.
Tony

Tony, 

     I would appreciate a copy of that picture as well, please.  I'm having a hard time visualizing where all those numbers go when the tang has so many holes and slots in it!     The 3  PG-DST tangs I have or have had all came from the late Ben Rice, so SNs were lacking on all. 

TIA,
Froggie

gfrog AT yahoo DOT com

Hello all,

Tony sent the picture to me, and I offered to post it for him, so here it is...

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Bert H.

Hello Jerry,

I agree with John Campbell concerning the very late production serial numbers. Winchester assembled several hundred unique high-wall rifles at the very end in the years 1920 - 1923. The list below are the serial numbers that I have data on;

139542 Plain Sporting Rifle high-wall, 22 RF, SCH-DST

139552 Special Sporting Rifle high-wall, 38-55, 30” no. 2 Oct Bbl, SCH-DST, mid-range vernier tang, shotgun butt, HR plate.

139553 Special Sporting Rifle high-wall, 38-55, SCH-DS, windgauge globe w/spirit level front, mid-range vernier tang, shotgun butt, HR plate.

139554 Special Sporting Rifle high-wall, 38-55, 30” no. Oct Bbl, SCH-DST, windgauge globe w/spirit level front, sporting rear, mid-range vernier tang, shotgun butt, HR plate.

139555 Plain Sporting Rifle high-wall (unknown caliber) 30” no. Rnd Bbl, SCH-DST.

139557 high-wall, SST tang only.

139558 high-wall, SST tang only.

139566 high-wall (thick-side frame), Takedown, CCST.

139570 Special Single Shot Rifle low-wall, 22 RF, no. 1 Rnd Bbl, SST, Beach comb. front, Lyman tang sight, 3X, H-Checkered stocks, Swiss cheek piece, Swiss butt plate.

139664 Special Sporting Rifle high-wall, 30-55 (not a typo), 30" no. 3 Rnd Bbl, SST. This rifle was custom ordered with a .30 bore and a 38-55 chamber.

139691 Plain Sporting Rifle high-wall, 45-70, 30” no. 3 Oct Bbl, plain trigger, Sporting front & rear sights, crescent butt.

139701 Special Sporting Rifle high-wall, 30 ARMY, 30” no. 3 Rnd Bbl, CCST, shotgun butt, checkered steel butt plate (like a Model 1887 or 1897).

139710 Schuetzen DST (tang only)

139712 Schuetzen DST (tang only)

139724 Special Sporting Rifle high-wall (custon varmint 225 Win), SST.

140000 Schuetzen low-wall, 32-40, 30” no. 3 Oct Bbl, SST, windgauge globe w/spirit level front, mid-range vernier tang, Laudensack BP, 3X stocks, Dutch CP.