about those walls

James M · Post by **James M** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 5:06 am

Since none of my ordered Sharps books have arrived yet,
would one you please explain
High Wall, Low Wall, Thick plate, and Thin plate receiver designs.

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 6:00 am

The terms only apply to Winchester 1885s. Not Sharps.

Brent

Hidehunter · Post by **Hidehunter** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 9:50 am

I beg to disagree (just a little bit) with Brent. Winchester single shot rifles came in the well-known "highwall" and "lowwall" versions.

But 'high' and 'low' wall,' as well as thick and thin lock plates also accurately describe Sharps variants.

The lockplates on early Sharps percussion rifles were 3/8" thick. Lockplates as used on later cartridge models (such as the '74) were thinner. Sharps - as well as other companies - converted large numbers of the percussion rifles to fire cartridges. In some instances the lockplate was used as is, in other instances it was ground down.

As for "highwall," the very early percussion rifles had some sort of primer dispenser built into the lockplate. The primer dispenser thingy was removed during conversion, leaving the lockplate with a higher profile than the later 'purpose-built' cartridge rifles.

At least that's how I understand it...

Frank · Post by **Frank** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 7:45 pm

In general terms if someone ask you if you shoot a High Wall or a Low Wall they are talking about the Winchester 1885 or a copy of the Winchester such as the Browning 1885. Actually the Browning 1885 came first.

Frank Costa

James M · Post by **James M** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 4:52 am

thanks

Ray Newman · Post by **Ray Newman** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 9:36 am

In May 1879, John M Browning applied for a patent on his single shot rifle, which was granted in Oct. 1879. The original Browning single shot is an extremely rare rifle.

The rifle design came to the attention of the Winchester Comp., & in June 1883, Browning & Winchester entered into an agreement that Browning would cease production (except for those actions on hand) . Winchester eventually bought the Browning rifle design/patent & produced the first single-shots in 1885; hence, the name the Winchester 1885 model.

There are many differences--internally & externally--between the original Browning single shot & the M1885. The same is true w/ the Browning single shot B78--introduced in 1978--the more recent Browning BPCR when compared to each other & the M1885.

Winchester discontinued the M1885 in the 1920’s

The Winchester Book (1985). p250 ff.
By Geo. Madis
ISBN 0-910156-03-4
LIC 79-8991

James M · Post by **James M** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 2:43 am

Well done, carry on men.

James M