Winchester 1886 86 Takedown, Blue & Case Color 24″ Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1920 C&R .33 WCF

SOLD FOR: $1,626.00
LSB#: 
180918JR44

Make: Winchester

Model: 1886, Takedown

Year of Manufacture: 1920

Caliber: .33 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle

Serial Number: 158180

Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. PAT. OCT. 14. 1884. JAN. 20. 1885.” forward of the rear sight, “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER” under the rear sight and “33 W.C.F.” behind the rear sight. The top of the barrel at the rear is marked with a circled “WP” proof. The top of the chamber ring is marked with an ovalled “WP” proof, the top tang is marked “MODEL   86 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG. IN U.S. PAT. OFF.”. The bottom tang is marked “158180” behind the lever.

Barrel Length: 24″ Nominal, 23 7/8″ Measured, Round

Sights: The front sight is a Lyman blade with checkered ramp and missing bead dovetailed to a base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “U”-notch leaf and elevator sight with shallow rounded top dovetailed to the rear of the barrel 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, checkered black hard rubber Winchester Repeating Arms Co. shotgun-style buttplate and “hook & eye” style sling studs front and rear. The stocks have some scattered light compressions, drag lines and scuffs with the most notable compressions. There are no chips or cracks. The wood is generally slightly shy to the metal, most noticeable around the top tang. The LOP measures 13 1/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has a chip loss at the toe, otherwise showing only light wear with well defined checkering and lettering, in about Good-Very Good condition. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good-plus condition as refinished.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original, touched up with cold blue.

Overall Condition: The rifle retains approximately 12% of its metal finish. The barrel has strongest finish toward the front and at the very rear with the middle worn to white, touched up with cold blue and showing scattered light surface erosion with some scabbing scattered along the left just above the forend and wear marks from the takedown lever on the bottom forward of the magazine tube. The exposed portion of the magazine tube has a few light marks and some scattered light freckling, the cap is mostly worn to white with light surface oxidation and the lever has light freckling, handling wear and operational wear. The receiver and barrel extension have the silvery-coloring of Winchester’s case-color hardened nickel steel with the coloring worn away with scattered pinprick erosion and infrequent spots of more moderate pitting. The lever has mostly worn to white with finish remaining on the inside and side faces of the trigger guard and there is scattered light surface erosion. The bolt has strong bluing with very light thinning at edges and light operational wear. The screw heads are mostly sharp with a few showing light tool marks. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Good-Very Good condition.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly and smoothly. The trigger is crisp. 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 avialble to the collector today. This is a takedown rifle, which allows the user to quickly remove the barrel assembly from the receiver for transport in a case the length of the barrel and has a 24″ round barrel. The rifle is fairly light for an 1886 at 7 lb, 9 oz. and is chambered for the .33 WCF cartridge, a standard chambering for the 1886 from 1902 until the model was discontinued. The .33 WCF is a good medium-range hunting cartridge, with performance roughly equivalent to or slightly better than .35 Remington. This rifle looks to have seen a long and useful life with about 12% of its metal finish remaining, though it has surprisingly light wear in the stocks and a great bore with strong mechanics. While this would likely still make a good hunting rifle today, it’s also likely to attract Winchester collectors as it is a takedown and the case-colored receiver was a special-order feature for takedown rifles after about serial 90000. Either way, this is a nice old Winchester, perfect for any collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R rifle can be transferred/sold in California.

Winchester 1886 86 Takedown, Blue & Case Color 24" Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1920 C&R .33 WCF
Winchester 1886 86 Takedown, Blue & Case Color 24″
Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1920 C&R .33 WCF