WINCHESTER 1886 Lever Action Rifle — SOLD
Created on November 1st 2010
A Good Winchester 1886 Model Lever Action Rifle
S/n 50487 for 1891. Overall length 45″. Stock length 13″ Calibre .40-82
26″ long octagonal barrel with full length tubular magazine underneath. The octagonal barrel was an extra, on offer from the Winchester company when these weapons were produced – at an additional cost. The barrel has good Winchester rifling with very light misting or pitting. Externally the barrel is turning a pleasant plumb brown with wear along the high points. It has the two line Winchester address on the top flat about halfway along and the caliber markings between the rear sight and the breech. The rifle is equiped with the standard open sporting sights. Underneath the barrel, on the bottom edge of the lowest flat of the octagon there are the slightest signs of damage to the blue. There are small sctatches about 3″ to 4″ long visible on both sides caused by the moving of the steel forend cap during dissembly, this is the only fault that can be spotted on the rifle.
The action is showing more of a grey finish with traces of the original blueing in the protected areas. In the right light it is possible to see the case-colour hardening that used to be a feature of the weapon. Operation of the action is smooth. The loading gate spring shows a strong nitre blue. The bolt and the hammer also show good strong original blues. The top tang is marked “-MODEL 1886 -” The lower tang with the patent dates and the serial number.
Standard American Walnut two piece stock. The forend having the steel cap and the shoulder stock being fitted with the American style crescent moon steel butt-plate. The American walnut on this Winchester 86′ is a pleasing dark red brown with the minimum of dents or damage, and no splits. The only noticable dent being on the right side of the forend in the shape of a half circle near the topside, beside the rear sight. There are no damaged screw heads visible on the whole of the rifle.
In the writers humble opinion this is one of the Classic Rifles a good gun collection should not go without.
£3100.
Comments Off on WINCHESTER 1886 Lever Action Rifle — SOLD