Winchester Model 1885 Limited Edition Creedmoor BPC Rifles
By Wayne, aka TexasMac
Short History
Davidsons, a well know and respected firearms distributor, work out a deal with Winchester to supply the market with a limited quantity edition of the Model 1885 Creedmoor Black Powder Cartridge Rifle (BPCR). With the exception of Winchester marked on the barrel and tang, the rifles are identical to the small quantity that Browning offered in late 1998. They are configured with 34” half octagon half round barrels and are chambered for the popular .45-90 Win. Badger supplied the rifled barrel blanks and Advance Manufacturing Technology (AMT) supplied the front and rear sights. As they did for the Browning’s, Miroku, located in Japan, manufactured the receivers, actions, walnut stocks, butt plates and grip caps; machined the outside contour of the barrels, including the crown, cut the chamber and fitted the barrel to the receivers. Miroku finished all the parts and fully assembled the rifles.
126 rifles were initially manufactured in June 2006. A second run in August 2007 produced 125 rifles. Due to additional research, Davidsons decided to introduce two other versions of the Creedmoor rifle. In late September 2007, Miroku manufactured 126 rifles in caliber .45-90 Win. with 30” half octagon half round Badger barrels. The rifles are not offered with sights, but do have a front dovetail and are drilled and tapped for classical tang sights or to mount a modern scope. In October 2007, another 126 rifles were manufactured in caliber .50-90 Sharps. These also have 30” Badger barrels and no sights.
Recently Davidsons announced that no more of the Creedmoor rifles will be manufactured. Dealers and retailers are currently selling all three versions until Davidsons’ inventory is depleted. If you’re looking for an excellent deal on a high-quality BPC rifle you may want to grab one now while quantities still exist. Due to the limited quantities manufactured, these are sure to increase in value.
Quantities/Mfg. Dates/ Serial Numbers:
126 rifles (.45-90 Win, 34” barrels, with sights), June 2006, SN 00000MV85L – 000125MV85L
125 rifles (.45-90 Win, 34” barrels, with sights), August 2007, SN 00001MT85E – 000125MT85E
126 rifles (.45-90 Win, 30” barrels, no sights), September 2007, SN 00000MR85D – 000125MR85D
126 rifles (.50-90 Sharps, 30” barrels, no sights), October 2007, SN 00000MR85E – 000125MR85E
Note, do not confuse the Creedmoor rifles with other recent Winchester limited edition BPCR rifles with full octagon barrels or other configurations. Only the Creedmoor models with the heavy half octagon half round barrels use Badger barrels.
Wayne
