I just got some pictures of my Browning 1885 Low Wall project back from Delta Gun Shop/Clearwater re-boring.

It started life as a .22 Hornet. I had it re-bored and re-chambered to 32-20. I have a pistol being built by Hamilton Bowen in 32-20 (with color case hardened receiver) and wanted a companion rifle. I had looked at the Marlin and Winchester lever actions but didn’t want to chase brass all over the desert or hunt for them in the snow, so I thought about a single shot. I found the Browning and contacted Allen Baker at Clearwater and he gave me an estimate. The receiver and under lever have been color case hardened by Doug Turnbull (thanks for the fantastic work Doug) and the gold color and the serrations on the trigger have been removed and a spray and bake finish have been applied. Sights are going to be installed as I don’t want to put a scope on it. I am going to remove the high gloss finish on the stock and apply a hand rubbed oil finish then I might apply a matte lacquer finish over that to reduce scratches (I am open to suggestions on the finish).

Two before pictures of the action and two after color case work by Doug Turnbull.

I will keep posting pictures and info as I get it.

Monty...Beautiful case hardening job!...Are you going to set this rifle up with open sites?...

Yes, I spent yesterday laboring over what sights. Finally chose a gold bead front and a flip up rear barrel sight with both standard v notch and ladder style.

I am going to strip the stock to get rid of the high gloss finish and then clean the checkering and do a hand rubbed oil finish.

Hey Low Wall,

I dont suppose you have a High Wall in 22-250, 260 or any other round with the same case head??

Nice colors!! You don't want anything over an oil finish--the idea is that any scratches can be fixed by just a drop of oil rubbed in. I use a tung oil, with some red-brown oil soluble dye powder added. Looks like the old alkanet root dyed linseed finish, but waterproof.

I might have to try that. I have been using Tru-Oil but it doesnt do as good a job as some others I have seen. Where do you get the dye powder and in what ratios do you mix it??

I think it was from Woodworkers Supply. I just use like 1/8 teaspoon in an old cooking spice jar full of Waterlox Tung oil finish. Something like a baby food jar.

Hey Monty!

Nice project. If I have luck, I get a used High Wall in .22-250, my third. After a .45-70 and a .30-30WCF.
I planed a target rifle, based on a Ruger #1. Chambered for the 8,15x46R or the .38-55WCF, but at the moment, I don´t know.


Martin

Martin,

I am looking for a High Wall in 22-250, 260, 243 or any calibre with the same case head size, hopefully with a 28 inch bbl. I am going to rebore and rechamber it to 280 Ackley and have the reciever and lever case color hardened like my low wall.

Very nice, but what sort of sights are you going to put on it since this is that version of the low wall that does not have a tang?

32-20 is an interesting cartridge but what will you use it for?

Brent

It took a bit to decide what rear sight to use. Allen Baker at Delta Gun Shop/Clearwater reboring, who is doing the project, recommended this rear sight. I am having a simple gold bead front. Trying to make it look good but keep it simple.

I will use it for everything from ground squirrels to coyotes. I have a Ruger 50th anniversary flat top .357 at Hamilton Bowens getting converted to a 5 ½ inch Bisley 32-20. I thought a rifle in the same caliber would be fun. I had thought about the Marlin and Winchester lever actions but hunting for brass in the desert and in the snow didn’t sound like a lot of fun, so the single shot.

That looks like a nice sight.


Here is another suggestion for a front sight from Montana Vintage Arms - very high quality


There is another sight I was looking for but can't find to show you. It is like the rear sight you have, but in place of the sliding bar with notch, it has a sliding aperture. I've not used one but hear good things about it.

If you decide to scope it, an Winchester 5A or a Lyman A5 or a Unertl small game scope is pretty darn sweet. I use the last on my tricked out low wall .22 from time to time. But I also use a lot other old Fecker and Lyman scopes on it as well as a vernier tang sight.

quote:

Originally posted by montycalhoun:
Hey Low Wall,

I dont suppose you have a High Wall in 22-250, 260 or any other round with the same case head??

Monty I have a B78 High Wall with a heavy varmit barrel in 22-250 and Low Walls in .260,.243,22Hornet,.45Colt and .357Mag(my favorite)....
I plan on having my B78 rebored to something in a .375 or 40 cal. one of these days....
Before you strip the finish off your Low Wall try sanding it with a fine 600grit? Silicon Carbide wet/dry sand paper then finish off with some true-oil....About 12 years ago or so I read a article in "Rifle" called "The Amourmed Stock"....I did a few stocks using his method (Epoxy thinned with acetone) and they turned out great!....
I have been thinking of having one of my .243 LW rebored to a 7X57 with open sites so it will be interesting to see what you come up with for a front site on that heavily tappered barrel...
Good luck and but sure to post your progress..

This is an excellent thread with great posts. I am very interested in a re-barrel project into a .260 Rem. Do you mind providing a ballpark estimate of the work done by Doug Turnbull?
Many thanks.