As an early low wall it may be stamped 25-20 WCF and still be chambered for the 25-20 SS. At one time I owned one so marked and chambered. I believe this anomaly is mentioned in Campbell's book. You might check to see if this is the case with your rifle. It's interesting to say the least.

Well, the barrel is marked 25 WCF and the Winchester markings on the barrel are correct for the early dating according to the Madis book.

This morning I dug through my cartridges and found a 25-20 SS and 25-20 WCF.  That answered the question as to which one the rifle is.  Definately a 25-20 SS; not the 25-20 WCF.   Next step is loking for the missing screw and gathering components, dies, etc so I can see what the rifle will do.  I'm going to have a good look at the bore before I start investing in reloading.  This looks like an interesting project for the winter.

George

Any suggestion where to go for the missing screw?

George

It is the screw on the right side towards the butt end of the receiver and above the trigger.  I think it, along with the one on the other side, holds the lower tang onto the receiver.

George

Thanks for that link.  I called Jim and we talked.  He thinks his screws may be too short, but I've been reading in DeHaas's book and I think they might work.  Tomorrow or the next day I'll pull the one off the left side and measure it and then get back with him.  From what I read in DeHaas they are all the same length with the exception of the thick sided HiWall. .

George

kensmachine wrote on Jul 29^th, 2014 at 11:58pm:


Do you have those screws Ken?

George, 

     When I first got my original 32-40 high wall barrel it looked pretty rough.  I found that using JB's Bore Paste™ and going by the directions did wonders for it.  I would highly recommend this to you as well.

Regards,
Froggie

George,

A few years ago I bought a low wall, 1900 vintage with a set back 23 and 1/8th inch octagon barrel in 25 WCF marked with a 1 on the barrel bottom flat now under the forestock .  Has scope blocks and the seller threw in a Lyman polaroid tube sight without the front Lyman #77 front sight.  It is stamped A. O. NIEDER  DOWAGIAC,MICH. on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the Winchester markings.  The seller was glad to get rid of it, not nearly as glad as I was to get it.  Anybody need a Lyman tube sight?  Death to jack rabbits!

Jim Hays

Jim,

That sounds like an interesting sight.  How about posting a picture.  Not sure if the Lyman 77 front sight (17?) was a typo or?  The "Old Gunsights book doesn't show a Lyman tube sight or a 77 front sight.

My LoWall is missing the front sight, or part of it.  There is a copper block set into the front dovetail.  The copper block has a second dovetail in it that is parallel to the barrel.  Not at all sure if this is homemade or part of something else.

I have the dies and shell holder, just waiting for the brass and bullets which are on their way.  I have an extra Lyman #2 (new junk) which will help me see how it shoots.  The tang screw for a Model 92 or 94 is just enough longer than the LoWall screw to work with the Lyman tang sight.  Just looking though, using the tang sight is going to require a pretty tall front sight, so I may just make something up for testing.  If it shoots I'll probably get a set of MVA sights.

George

I went back to the Stroebel book and found the 77 front sight right where you said it was.  Missed that the first time through.  Wish I could see what the rear sight is like.  But withoug the matching front sight it would probably be useless.  Tube sights are a bit intriging.  They have been around a long, long time.  I think the first ones I saw were in the Reich Museum in Amsterdam.  They were on wheellocks as I recall.  I even have a book in Dutch which shows a matchlock having what looks like a tube sight on it.  Really hard to tell though.

George