Chiappa Winchester Model 1886 22″ .45/70 Gov’t Lever Action Rifle, MFD 2015

SOLD FOR: $1325

LSB#: 210421HF34

Make: Chiappa Firearms

Model: 1886

Serial Number: I5C01290

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 2015

Caliber: .45-70 Gov’t

Action Type: Lever Action rifle, Tubular Magazine

Markings: The right side of the barrel is marked “CHIAPPA FIREARMS, LTD. DAYTON, OHIO”, the left is marked “CHIAPPA FIREARMS / ITALY CAL. 45/70 US GOV.”. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1886”. The underside of the frame is marked with the serial number and “PAT. OCT. 14. 1884 / JAN. 20. 1885”. Italian proofs and date cod are marked on the underside of the receiver and the left side of the barrel at the chamber.

Barrel Length: 22”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a tall silver blade, pinned to a base. The rear sight is a dovetail set leaf sight with a flat top and u-notch. The elevator is present.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are smooth walnut with a satin finish, a single barrel band and a carbine style buttplate. There are only a handful of scattered surface marks, better than 95% of the finish is retained. There are no chips or cracks and these are very attractive pieces. The LOP measures about 12 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the case colored steel buttplate, which still shows 90% finish or more. The stocks rates in about Excellent overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Finish Originality: Factory

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

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows no damage and only slight evidence of handling. The action’s internals barely show any finish loss, same for the hammer. We would assume less than a box or two have gone through this rifle. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions properly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: The Winchester 1886 followed up the 1876, providing a much stronger action which was able to withstand larger and more powerful cartridges such as the .45-70, the issue rifle cartridge of the U.S. Army at the time. The John Browning design would later be shrunk for the model 1892 in pistol cartridges.

This modern reproduction has the same action and was produced with today’s best manufacturing capabilities in Italy. It retains 98% of its metal finish with a great bore, strong mechanics, and absolutely gorgeous case coloring. This would make a nice hunting rifle that could take just about any game in North America.

If you’re looking for a .45-70 lever gun, you can’t do much better than this.

Good luck and happy bidding!