Designed by a young John Moses Browning, the Winchester 1885 Single Shot “High-Wall” was introduced to provide a robust, incredibly accurate single-shot platform. It became the Winchester gold standard for long-range target shooting and big-game hunting.
The Winchester Model 1885 High-Wall was introduced to allow Winchester to enter also the market of big-game hunting and long-range precision shooting, which was then controlled by specialized single-shot manufacturers like Sharps and Remington.
Winchester lever-action rifles were ill-suited for the most powerful black powder cartridges, so the company purchased the rights to a robust falling-block design from a then-unknown 28 years old man: John Moses Browning. This resulted in the Winchester 1885 Single Shot model, which remained in production from 1885 until approximately 1920. During this period, roughly 140,000 units were produced, catering to an era when extreme accuracy had become more important than high volume of fire.
The rifle is defined by its incredibly simple but strong falling-block action, operated by a lever that lowered a massive steel breechblock to expose the chamber. The "High-Wall" version (so called to distinguish it from the "Low-Wall" version, mainly dedicated to lighter cartridges and sport shooting) featured a frame that fully enclosed the hammer’s sides, providing maximum rigidity for heavy calibers.
The Winchester Single Shot rifle was chambered in a staggering variety of about 91 different cartridges, ranging from the small .22 rimfire to the massive .577 Eley. Barrel lengths were equally diverse, often featuring 30-inch or 32-inch heavy octagonal profiles to maximize long-range stability.
In the realms of hunting and sport, the 1885 became a premier choice for buffalo hunters and big-game enthusiasts who required the terminal ballistics of massive lead projectiles. Simultaneously, it dominated the competitive target shooting scene at Creedmoor-style matches, where its inherent accuracy and consistent lock time made it a favorite among "marksmen of the old school."
The Winchester Single Shot became legendary for the strength of its action and the precision of its trigger and barrel: and its reputation for "one-shot" reliability made it a masterpiece of nineteenth-century engineering.
Variants
- W03 - White finish
- C04 - Charcoal Blue finish
- G12 - Buffed finish stock
- G05 - Deluxe selected walnut stock, buffed finish
- G35 - Laser checkered stock and forend
- E29 - Standard hand engraving
- E24 - Luxury hand engraving
- E25 - Gold inlay hand engraving
- E26 - Hand engraved Monograms
- E27 - Hand engraved single letters
- E28 - Hand engraved gold inlayed letters
Designed by a young John Moses Browning, the Winchester 1885 Single Shot “High-Wall” was introduced to provide a robust, incredibly accurate single-shot platform. It became the Winchester gold standard for long-range target shooting and big-game hunting.
