This is an excellent U.S. Winchester Model 1885 Low Wall Winder Musket chambered in an uncommon .22 Short Caliber. The rifle features a 28-inch round barrel with respectable covered front sight and Lyman precision sight. The bottom of the fore grip shows a swinging brass bass stabilizer. The Winchester Repeating Arms Co. Model 1885 is a single-shot falling-block action, which was offered in two distinct variations, the Low Wall and the High Wall, and was designed by John Browning and produced from 1885-1918. In 1883, Thomas G. Bennet, the Vice-President and General Manager of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, traveled to Ogden, Utah to meet with the Browning Brother’s about the negotiation and purchase of the single-shot design, as well as a prototype of what would become the Model 1886 lever action. This meeting began what was to be a very fruitful 20-year Winchester and Browning collaboration. The rifle was produced to satisfy the demands created for the growing sport of long-range “Match Shooting” and was dominated by the single-shot giants, such as Sharps, Remington, Stevens, Maynard, and Ballard. They entered as competitors and excelled, with Major Ned H. Roberts (inventor of the .257 Roberts cartridge) describing the Model 1885 as “the most reliable, strongest, and altogether best single shot rifle ever produced”. The action was considered so strong and trustworthy that Winchester used the Model 1885 as the test rifle for all new large calibers. Later, the U.S. Army would order a special contract of the “Winder Musket”, a marksmanship training rifle. The breechloading Winder Musket was given its namesake from its brainchild of Colonel C. B. Winder, an advocate for marksmanship training. The top of the receiver is marked “U.S.” over a flaming bomb. The rifle features the band fastened grooved full length walnut forearm and straight grip sportier style walnut stock with original crescent steel butt plate. The rifle receiver shows some of the original finish color fading to a gray coloration, with the barrel having the same dark original finish with some gray. The wood shows patina from wear and use. Serial Number: 125982A. This firearm qualifies as an Antique, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.