Winchester 1886 86 Set Trigger 28″ Octagonal Blue Lever Action Rifle, 1896 Antique .38-56 WCF

SOLD FOR: $3,300.00
LSB#: 180918JR47

Make: Winchester

Model: 1886

Year of Manufacture: 1896

Caliber: .38-56 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle

Serial Number: 105281

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “-MANUFACTURED BY THE- / -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.-” forward of the rear sight and “38-56 W.C.F.” behind the rear sight. The top tang is marked “-MODEL 1886-“. The bottom tang is marked -“PAT. OCT. 14. 1884. / JAN. 20. 1885”- under the lever and “105281” behind.

Barrel Length: 28″ Nominal, 27 7/8″ Measured, Octagonal

Sights: The front sight is a blade dovetailed and screw-set to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch semi-buckhorn leaf and elevator sight with the notch fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled to accept a peep-sight (none included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The forend has light-moderate wear with scattered compressions, bruises, and scratches, a gouge on the left edge under the rear sight and tiny losses at the front and rear corners on the right. The buttstock has light-moderate wear with scattered compressions, drag lines and nicks, a few scattered gouges, mostly on the left toward the rear, three cracks around the rear of the top tang, a short, thin crack in the right of the wrist toward the bottom, and another thin crack at the right of the toe below a more notable scratch. The stock has a slight gap to the top tang, alternately proud and shy to the metal. The LOP measures 13 3/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate’s finish has gone to patina with a few small patches of solid erosion, scattered light marks and a nick at the heel, in about Good-plus condition as Antique. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case-Color

Finish Originality: Original

Overall Condition: The rifle retains approximately 7% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has gone to a medium-dark patina with several scattered light nicks and scratches. The magazine tube’s finish is mottled with patina, finish wear, and scratches with a patch of impact marks on the right just forward of the nosecap and another on the bottom approximately 3″ behind the tube’s lug. The receiver has mostly gone to white with case-coloring showing in some protected areas such as behind the loading gate and on the left around the hammer screw-head. The receiver has scattered light discoloration from oxidation with some light scratches and nicks and there is a thin crack at the right-rear corner of the set trigger which doesn’t quite extend to the edge of the tang. The bolt has fairly strong finish with a few spots of light surface erosion around the left locking lug and at the front. About half of the screw heads are sharp with a few showing light tool marks and the nosecap screws lightly disfigured with useable slots. The hammer knurling is well defined. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Good-plus condition as Antique.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray, the rifling is worn but well defined. There is light-moderate erosion scattered in the bore with a few spots of light pitting.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly and smoothly. The trigger is more than 8 lbs when not set, just under 1 lb when set. The trigger is set by pushing forward on the rear trigger until it clicks. The lever locks up tight. The hammer has a half-cock position. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box / Accessories: None

Our Assessment: The 1886 is another of John Browning’s industry-changing designs. It is our favorite Winchester here, certainly the strongest built at the time and function leads to beauty. The 1886 was available in a variety of cartridges over its nearly 40 years of production and, while there were standard configurations, there were also special-order features which led to a wide number of variations available to the collector today. This is a rifle with a special-order 28″ octagonal barrel, full-length magazine tube and set-trigger, chambered for .38-56 WCF produced in 1896. The rifle retains approximately 7% of its original finish and wear consistent with a rifle which has seen extensive field use over the last 122 years. At 9 1/2 pounds, this rifle isn’t particularly light, but it makes up for that by having the capacity of a full-length magazine tube and being able to set the trigger for a light, crisp break providing a more precise shot. Altogether, this is a beautiful example of a Winchester 1886 takedown with its original finsh and a couple of special-order features, a great opportunity for the Winchester collector. Please see our pictures and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This Antique rifle can be transferred/sold in California. All cartridge firing firearms sold in CA must be DROS’d, including C&R and Antique.