Winchester Model 1886 ’86 26″ .40-82 WCF Lever Action Rifle, 1893 Antique
Sold For: $2,353.00
LSB#: 200731JK04
Make: Winchester
Model: 1886
Serial Number: 80408
Year of Manufacture: 1893
Caliber: .40-82 WCF
Action Type: Lever Action with Full-Length Tubular Magazine
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “-MANUFACTURED BY THE- / -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.-” and at the receiver with “40-82 W.C.F.”. The upper tang is marked “-MODEL 1886-”. The lower tang is marked -“PAT. OCT. 14.1884. / JAN. 20.1885”- and “80408”.
Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a bone blade in a steel base dovetailed to the front of the barrel, showing moderate wear. The rear sight is a “V”-notch semi-buckhorn leaf and elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel with the notch fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none included).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and crescent steel buttplate. The stocks have scattered light nicks, dings, scratches and scuffs. There is some more notable scraping on the right of the buttstock, spots of marring on the right of the wrist toward the rear, the left of the buttstock behind the wrist, a scratch on the right of the buttstock extending forward from the buttplate, and a deep ding on the top of the wrist to the right of the top tang. There are a few small losses and a thin crack around the top tang and another small loss at the rear edge of the forend on the right. The LOP measures 12 7/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a light-moderate patina with solid erosion scattered throughout. Overall, the stocks are in about Good-plus condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Colored
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling shows wear but is well defined where not interrupted by erosion. There is light erosion through the bore with less frequent light pitting.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 0% of its metal finish. The metal surfaces have gone to a light-moderate patina with scattered solid erosion, most on the barrel and magazine but with some on the receiver. There are tool marks on the barrel to each side of the magazine lug with peening on the lug at the dovetail. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches, most notable on the receiver flats. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with useable slots. The markings are generally clear, some are slightly obscured by erosion. The serial marking is shallow, typical of early 1886 markings. Overall, this rifle is in about Good-Very Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock notch. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: Winchester’s first attempt at a lever action rifle capable of handling a rifle cartridge was the Model 1876, which was a heavier framed version of the Model 1873. However, the toggle-link action used in the gun was still limited to short cartridges like the .40-60 and .45-60 Win. The Model 1886 was made to handle longer cartridges like the .45-70 Govt., and the .45-90 Win. and .50-110 Win. cartridges. The Model 1886 utilized a locked-bolt action that was much stronger than the M1876, and some think it is faster and smoother as well. The Winchester Model 1886 was touted as a lever action express model, capable of handling any of the North American game animals. This rifle is chambered in .40-82 WCF, one of the original chamberings for this model. It has a blade front sight and a semi-buckhorn elevator rear with the top tang drilled, tapped and filled to accept a peep sight (none included). The rifle was made in 1893, fairly early in M1886 production, made during the period when Winchester was producing the rifle with a case colored finish to the receiver, lever and nosecap, but the finish on this rifle has almost completely worn off. It is in about Good-Very Good overall condition as Antique, and the bore has some erosion and light pitting but the rifling is still mostly well defined. This rifle has seen some honest wear, but the action still functions and the bore is still shootable. The collectors should be very interested in this rifle. Please see our photos and good luck!
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable (THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO OUT OF STATE RESIDENTS): We will ship this Antique direct in California as the ammunition for it is obsolete and no longer commercially available in the United States. Out of state residents can disregard this section – your local laws apply.
