Winchester 1886 ’86 26″ .45-90 WCF Lever Rifle & Letter, MFD 1898 Antique
SOLD FOR: $4025
LSB#: 210220EW09
Make: Winchester
Model: 1886
Serial Number: 113974
Year of Manufacture: 1898
Caliber: .45-90 W.C.F. (Winchester Center Fire)
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 “45-90 W C.F.”. The upper tang is marked “-MODEL 1886-”. The lower tang is marked -“PAT. OCT. 14.1884. / JAN. 20.1885”- and “113974”.
Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade in a slotted base dovetailed and screw-set to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The notch is 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 some scattered light nicks, dings, scratches and scuffs. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate’s case color has mostly muted, showing light wear and some scattered spots of minor surface oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is infrequent minor erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 60% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The strongest finish is in the barrel and the magazine tube. There is some good case color on the hammer, inside the trigger guard and at the top of the lever by the locking blocks with some scattered figuring visible on the receiver. Other case colored areas have mostly gone to a nickel-like appearance common for Winchester 1886 case color of this vintage with some scattered discoloration from oxidation. The barrel has generally strong finish with some areas showing a light patina. The magazine tube has finish wear with a light patina toward the bottom-rear, with stronger finish toward the front and on the top. The bolt has strong finish mixed with areas showing wear and discoloration from oxidation. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Fine 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: This rifle comes with a Winchester Factory Letter from the Cody Firearms Museum. The letter shows that this rifle in its present configuration was received in the Winchester warehouse on April 1, 1898 and shipped on July 1, 1899. The letter is in Excellent condition.
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 with this example chambered for .45-90 WCF, a cartridge developed for the Sharps rifle, intended for long-range target shooting and hunting. The cartridge still has a following today among Black Powder Cartridge Rifle (BPCR) competitors and some hunters. This rifle was produced in 1898, and according to the included Winchester Factory Letter, is still in its original configuration with a standard 26″ octagonal barrel. This rifle will make a nice addition to a Winchester collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!