Winchester Model 1887 Deluxe, Fine Damascus 10 Ga. Lever Action Shotgun, XX Checkered Wood, MFD 1893

SOLD FOR: $4,025.00
LSB#: 
190331CA01

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms Co.

Model: Deluxe Model 1887

Serial Number: 54156

Year of Manufacture: Shipped August 2, 1893

Caliber: 10 Gauge, (2 7/8”)

Action Type: Lever Action Tubular Magazine Fed Shotgun

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “10”. The lower tang is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE / WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. / PAT. FEB.16 & JULY 20. 1886”. The underside of the receiver is marked “54156” and the left side of the receiver has the “WRA Co” logo. John Ulrich designed this elegant logo for Winchester and engraved the die, which was placed on all 1887’s. The upper inletting of the stock is marked “909” and the lower left tang is marked “909 XX”, under the wood.

Barrel Length: 32 1/4”

Sights / Optics: The shotgun is mounted with a single brass bead front sight and a very wide “U” notch on the upper forward part of the receiver. This wide notch was used at the time because most shooters of the day were accustomed to the sight pictre of the side by side’s, where the barrels formed a “U” notch.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are factory checkered XX walnut with a pistol grip, checkered metal butt plate and a two piece factory checkered forearm. There is a small 3/4″ sliver missing on the top of the right side of the forearm at the rear. This is the only chip or crack we see in the wood and was definitely incurred long ago. The checkering remains very clear and very pronounced on all three pieces. The finish shows thinning and darkening, with about 60% finish remaining. There are a number of scratches and dings throughout both pieces, honest wear from use over the years and some recent storage bruises. There is absolutely no evidence of sanding or a refinishing. The LOP measures 12 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the rear of the butt plate. The plate has worn through the finish, with a couple light instances of erosion. The buttplate checkering is still well-defined. The plate is in about Good condition. The stocks rate in about Very Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: Case Colored Frame, Fine Damascus Barrel, Rust Blued Tube

Finish Originality: Factory Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright. There does not appear to be any erosion though there is some stubborn fouling which should clear out with a patient cleaning. The bore is significantly better than we expected.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 70% of its metal finish. The case coloring remains visible on the majority of the frame’s surfaces, having thinned mostly at the upper tang and the lever. There are some tiny spots of surface frosting on the lever and the upper tang. The frame has only a couple of light surface scratches, with one depper mark on the right side ahead of the lever pin. The barrel has scattered light wear with some scuffing on the top from rack storage and thinning on the right side around the front of the forearm. This thinning is likely from finger placement. The magazine tube has scattered light wear, moreso near the rear, which is consistent with thinning from the forward hand. The tube has drifted towards brown, with one spot of cleaned rust on the left side behind the barrel band. The screw heads are sharp, with minimal evidence of turning. (The photographs of the gun put-together were taken after we disassembled for the internal photos to show that no damage was done from the disassembly). The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Fine condition and is certainly one of the better lever action shotguns we have handled.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used fierarms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: A Cody letter is included, confirming all features and shipment date.

Our Assessment: Despite the suggestion of John Browning, who suggested that a pump shotgun was a far more practical design for a repeating shotgun, Winchester insisted that the repeating shotgun be a Lever Action design to better fit into the product line of Winchester. Answering this request, Browning designed the 1887 (and later the 1901) as a breech-loading, rolling block lever-action, which was a change from the other sliding-bolt actions used in the rifles of the day. It was not until the 1893 that Browning was able to produce through winchester his “superior” pump shotgun.

Standard guns had fluid steel barrels while damascus was offered at an added expense of $15-$20. Also at the time, a fancy stock was optional at added cost of $5 and checkering offered at another $10 more. The base price of an 1887 was around $30… this gun would have cost at least twice that much.

Just shy of 65,000 1887’s were produced, and far fewer Deluxe Models. This Winchester Deluxe 1887 showing Fine Damascus barrel, border engaving on the frame and fancy checkered stocks is exactly how it left the factory in 1893, with only honest wear incurred since. This is definitely one of our favorite guns, an important one to have in a Winchester, Old West or Shotgun Collection and one of the best you will have the opportunity to buy. Please see our photos and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This antique shotgun can be sold in California.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This antique shotgun can be sold in California.

Winchester Model 1887 Deluxe, Fine Damascus 10 Ga. Lever Action Shotgun, XX Checkered Wood, MFD 1893
Winchester Model 1887 Deluxe, Fine Damascus 10 Ga.
Lever Action Shotgun, XX Checkered Wood, MFD 1893