What about the Winchester 1885 falling block rifle?

[harmonic]

I want a single shot rifle. I was looking at the Browning but they don't really offer what I'm looking for.

Then I read that Winchester and Browning are now owned by the same company, are both made in Japan, and are essentially the same rifle.

But Winchester used to be owned by the United States Repeating Arms Corporation, right? And back then, they weren't such a great rifle.

How can I determine a Winchester 1885 is the same as the Browning 1885?

 

[Jim Watson]

You mean the new production rifles?

The "Browning" 1885 and the "Winchester" 1885 come out of the same Miroku factory in Japan. There have been a number of different styles and calibers but they are all starting on the same action.

Back in the USRA days, they were only making Model 94, 9422, and Model 70 rifles, Model 1200, 1300, and 1400 shotguns in the USA. Others were all from Japan.

 

[harmonic]

So in the USRA days, the falling block Winchesters were being made by Mirokou, just like the Browning?

Also, you're saying that some models were being made here (the models you mentioned), and the other models were being made in Japan?

Finally, are they, in fact, the same rifle? (The 1885)

 

[Jim Watson]

That is yes, yes, and yes.

There was little or no overlap between Browning and Winchester branding of the Miroku 1885 series. Management decided that the Winchester name meant more because the guns had originally been made by Winchester even though designed by Mr Browning, so they changed the label but not the gun. There were likely some Brownings left in inventory when the Winchester marked guns started being made but I don't think they were in production at the same time.

There were Japanese "Browning" Model 12 and 42 shotguns which seems odd because Mr Browning did NOT design them. There were also reproduction Models 1892, 53, 71, and 65 lever action rifles under the Browning brand but made by Miroku.
The reissued Model 52 and 86 rifles were like the 1885, they made the transition and you will see them with either Browning or Winchester trademark.

Note, all this applies for the past 15-20 years to reproduction and "reissue" guns.
The original guns of those models were all made by Winchester in the USA.

 

[harmonic]

Thanx Jim. BTW, welcome back.

 

[GunTech]

The only difference I can see between the two is calibers offered and stock design. Many of the Winchester 1885 have traditional straight stocks and curved butt plates with a matte finish. The Brownings tend to have glossy epoxy finish, flat butt plates and pistol grip stocks.

You also didn't distinguish between low walls and high walls.

Here's my one of my Browning low walls (top) and my Winchester low wall for comparison:

 

[CraigC]

Can't add anything to Jim Watson's or GunTech's posts, all are right on the money. Although it might be worthy of note that the earlier Brownings have a traditional half cock action, while all the Winchesters will have a tang safety and rebounding hammer. All the guns that come from the Miroku factory are top quality.