Ranch Roper, just found your posting here, so I am a day late and a dollar short. To begin with, I always find your posts educational, on target, and I have the greatest respect for you and your lifestyle and shooting ethic.
Also, you obviously have the patience of a saint, I don’t think I could endure waiting as long as you have, but the wait will be more than worth it.
Winchester produced nearly 140,000 Single Shot rifles from 1885 to 1920, and it was found that the falling-block Model 1885 had been built with one of the strongest actions known at that time. The falling block action was so strong that the Winchester Company used it to test fire newly created rifle cartridges. Winchester also produced a large number of Single Shots in .22 caliber for the US Army as a marksmanship training rifle, the "Winder musket."
The Winder musket was the brainchild of Colonel C. B. Winder, who advocated marksmanship training with a rifle of similar size and weight to a service rifle but chambered in .22 rimfire, which was both economical and suitable for indoor ranges. The Winder musket was based on the Winchester Model 1885 single-shot rifle.
Although it was never officially referred to as the Winder musket, the weapon was informally named in honor of Colonel C. B. Winder and has since generally been referred to as the Winder musket.
Winder muskets were used for target and training purposes well into the early twentieth century. Many were purchased by the United States Ordnance. The one pictured below was gifted to me by a man I greatly respected and was an icon in my profession. It’s one of the original Winder Muskets (1885 falling block) in .22 Long Rifle with an Octagon Barrel. Still shoots point of aim, point of impact.
Please post your Uberti when it finally comes in, and how it shoots. Have to say, I also am very partial to anything 45 !
Merry Christmas !

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