Winchester 1885 Project

[toro1]

I recently retired and have some time and so I am starting on some project rifles. First up is what I think is a Winchester low wall 1885 musket that has been cut down. I say I think because I am not very familiar with these rifles and so it may be something else. For the knowledgeable, is it what I think it is? Also is there a way to tell what caliber it was originally?

It has seen a fairly rough life and the original barrel is gone, but it has what I think is an aftermarket 22lr barrel. I am trying to figure out how to proceed with this and wondering if I should look for an 1885 barrel (caliber is not important) or use what it has. If I use what it has I will need to mount a front site which I have not tried before so if anyone has some ideas on how to mount one, it would be great to hear it.
For the rear sight it looks like at one time it had a sight mounted on the right of the receiver (Lyman 45 maybe?), but I could also go with a tang sight to bring it back to life. Since the originality is long gone, I think either of those approaches would be better than trying to add a rear sight to the barrel. At some point it will need to go to a gunsmith for a complete checkout, but I would like to do as much work as possible before getting it to a Smith.

Thought and ideas on how to proceed are appreciated and I realize I will probably have more into it than it will be worth, but it will allow me to do some new things.

TIA

[TRAP55]

Before Bubba customized it, it "was" an 1885 LoWall Model 87 Winder Musket .22 military trainer, in either .22 Short or .22 Long Rifle. I need the serial number on the lower tang to verify. All of the U.S. Military contract Winder Muskets were manufactured in the January 1918 - July 1919 time frame.
Looked like this:



The rear sight was a Lyman No. 53 peep sight.




There's a couple of original barrels, stocks, and parts on Ebay right now.

[toro1]

Thanks again Trap. You are a wealth of knowledge and I will PM you the S/N. Could the Lyman sight have been original?

[TRAP55]

If it didn't have the original Lyman sight from the factory, it came with a barrel mounted 1901 Krag rear sight. The Lyman rear was usually paired with a globe front sight, I'll have to look up the exact model number for you.
Winder Muskets were made in two Hiwall versions, and one LoWall, and there were military and civilian versions. The flaming bomb proof shows yours was a military trainer.
That rifle was made in early 1918, with 9400 made that year.
Bert did a comprehensive article on the Winders in the Winter 2010 issue of The Winchester Collector. You can read it online if you sign up at WACA and pay the dues.

http://winchestercollector.org/?s=Winter+2010&post_type=wacamag

[toro1]

Trap,
Thank You for the production information.

I will be taking it to a local gunsmith today to talk to him about the best approach on the barrel. The one that is on it will need much fitting and at a minimum a front sight installed. It may be a better path to pick up an original barrel and go that route.
I have also been trying to find a Lyman 53, but other than the Winder Musket references, I cannot find anything for a 53 that looks like the one in the above picture. I am guessing this means they are made out of unobtanium and so I will need to take a different route for the rear sight. If that is the case, buying an original barrel might make even more sense.

[toro1]

The resurrection project is continuing and to that end, I had an original 22 short barrel installed today. During the install we found I am missing the extractor so the search is on for that. It looks like Numrich and Ballard Parts has them, but does anyone recommend one over the other for parts? The Numrich ones are cheaper, but if Ballard parts are better quality I would use them. Alternatively, are there any better sources out there for them?

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Products/1333310.htm

http://www.ballardarms.com/parts_merchandise.shtml

Part HO22

I am also still looking for a Lyman 53, Musket forearm if anyone has any laying around. I know the chances are slim to none, but what its worth a try.

[Croweman08]

i hate to say it but EBAY is one of the best spots to pick up spare parts for original winchesters. I have had lots of luck picking up parts. Lots of Lyman sights too.....

[toro1]

i hate to say it but EBAY is one of the best spots to pick up spare parts for original winchesters. I have had lots of luck picking up parts. Lots of Lyman sights too.....

Yea, I am not a big fan of ebay, but have been scouring it and gunbroker for parts. Sometimes you do what you have to get what you need. I'll probably call Numrich and talk to them about their extractor. If everything sounds OK I'll get one on the way.