Please Educate Me

[MI2600]

I have collected Winchesters, levers and pumps, since the '60s..I'm a lefty so no bolt actions. But, I find there is a hole in my familiarity: I really know nothing about "High Wall" and "Low Wall" Winchesters.

Help!

 

[Obturation]

.I'm a lefty

Most leftys don't like guns at all, errrr- nevermind.
Highwall & low wall rifles are ambidextrous, they don't discriminate . they're fun to shoot and have style beyond most anything. I recommend getting one or a bunch. You can't go wrong. That's all the education I have to offer. Someone who knows more will be along shortly , I'm sure.

 

[MI2600]

What distinguishes one from the other?

 

[daniel craig]

Interesting subject

 

[Bandit67]

I believe the Low Walls are the smaller cartridges and the High Walls are the larger more powerful cartridges. The sides of the receiver are lower on the Low Walls and expose more of the hammer when viewed from the side. The sides are higher on the High Walls and cover much of the hammer.

 

[jmr40]

I don't know enough about those rifles to be of any help. Just gonna say don't let being left handed stop you from buying a bolt rifle, even a right handed version. If you want one it is at worst a minor inconvenience to shoot a bolt gun from the other side. My brother does so as do lots of others.

But this may help.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=diffe...7c4c640ee816331563748e345&cc=US&setlang=en-US

 

[Weflyfast]

The nun didn't slap your left knuckles with the yard stick enough?

......sorry probably in bad taste....

Lefties are in their right mind....

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The low wall has a scoop out of the rear upper corner of the action. The high wall, less of a scoop. In general, high walls were for more powerful cartridges, low walls were for lesser rounds.

 

[MI2600]

Thanks, Vern. Until I compared the two I didn't see a difference.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

1885 Low Wall (reproduction)

 

[Varminterror]

What distinguishes one from the other?

The names are descriptive - it’s the height of the wall supporting the falling block. High walls have a fully supported falling block, top to bottom, whereas the low walls are scalloped at the rear and the “low wall” only supports the lower portion of the block, largely below the bore-line. Firing force in a low wall has leverage on the block against the receiver, so these are only suitable for lower power cartridges. The high walls are fully supported in line with the bore, so they were used for more potent chamberings.

High Wall - Fully supported block


Low wall - partially supported block

 

[Jim Watson]

Varminterror's pictures are perfect examples.
The low wall 1885 Single Shot has less breechblock support and was used for small or low pressure cartridges.
However, the "reproductions" made by Miroku for Browning and Winchester have better materials and design changes that let them chamber their Low Wall for modern smokeless calibers like .243 Win. They seem not to have sold well, I knew a guy who would buy them at closeout prices and rebarrel for 19th century BPCRs.