seen a win 1885

[HillbillyGadget]

Seen a like new win. 1885 at the gun store yesterday, a low wall .22lr with a marble peep, octagon to round what a neat little rifle out of my price range, its still there if anybodies interested,

[marlinman93]

Are you talking a recent reproduction, or an original?

[Graybeard]

Are you talking a recent reproduction, or an original?

Technically speaking, since the recent one carried the Winchester name it is a reissue NOT a reproduction. Same as the new Colt SAAs vs. clones of them. or the new reissue of the S&W Schofield.

[Drifter Mike]

Beg to differ. The "new " Winchester's are made in Japan, therefor I would call them a  reproduction. If Winchester still made them in the U S of A I would agree
 Drifter Mike

[Graybeard]

Where they are made has no bearing on it. A Winchester gun made by Winchester is a Winchester regardless. It can't be a reproduction if it carries the name of the original manufacturer. That Winchester has gone to pot and isn't a real firearms manufacturer in the strictest sense any longer doesn't matter.

Now the Browning version even tho made by the same Japanese workers is a reproduction because it does not carry the orginal Winchester name.

[Prince of Wales]

If the Browning bros were selling the Browning 78 before selling a patent to Oliver Winchester (his 85) would`nt the Browning also be a legitimate reissue? POW

[Graybeard]

Yes indeed. But as far as I know that's not the case. In those days Browning was an inventor but not a manufacturer of guns. Technically Browning has never manufactured a gun always chosing instead to contract the manufacture to others just as they do today. Once upon a time Winchester was actually a manufacturer. Now they really are nothing more than a brand name which US Repeating Arms holds rights to use. Both are owned by the French government. So buying either merely supports the froggies who hate us so badly.

[KENTDEP]

I belive the first gun that John M. Browning "made" was the Auto 5 shotgun. Except he had it made in Belgium. He knew if he went to Winchester with the patent they would buy the patent and shelve the design so noone else would make that gun. So Browning went to FN and had the gun built there and brought them back here to the market.

Jay

[Graybeard]

Actually Winchester refused to buy the patent. That was the first time they refused. Pissed Browning off so much he ended the long standing relationship they had. Remington bought rights to use it but not exlusive rights. Their's is called the Remington Model 11. Savage also bought rights to it. So that one gun has been made under three different brand names all on the same patent all because of Winchester's big mistake.

[PeterF.]

Some of Browning's models have been made over such a number of years that some of the same model were made both in Belgium (by FN) and Japan (by Miroku). Browning collectors seem to prefer the Belgium-made ones.  About the relatively-recent 1885s, either Browning-sold or Winchester-sold, I believe they were/are all made by Miroku; and all would be considered a "reproduction" of the original Browning-designed/Winchester 1885.  A true older Winchester 1885 is a whole 'nother critter ... and has its own set of values to collectors.  If I was splitting hairs about a "Winchester" 1885, I'd ask if it had leaf springs (old) or coil springs (new).

[EDG]

>>Yes indeed. But as far as I know that's not the case. In those days Browning was an inventor but not a manufacturer <<

Browning actually did manufacture single shots in Utah until Winchester bought the Highwall.