Consecutive Pair Winchester 1886 Extra Light High Grade .45-70 Lever Rifles
SOLD FOR: $3237
LSB#: 211227BW07, 211227BW08
Make: Winchester, Mfg. in Japan by Miroku
Model: 1886 Extra Light High Grade Consecutive Pair
Serial Number: 0ESLRH0976, 0ESLRH0977
Year of Manufacture: 2000-2001
Caliber: .45-70 Government
Action Type: Tubular Magazine Fed Lever Action Rifle
Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “U.S. REPEATING ARMS CO. INC., NEW HAVEN, CT U.S.A. / JAPAN/MIROKU” and “CAL. .45-70 GOVT”. The top of the barrel is marked “WP”, found again on the top of the chamber ring. The right of the barrel is marked “WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 EXTRA LIGHT RIFLE. WINCHESTER LICENSEE”. The top tang is marked “WINCHESTER / MODEL 1886”, the bottom-front of the receiver is marked with the respective serial number. The left side of the receiver shows two gold inlay elk in nature, the right shows a gold inlay white tail deer, both sides show high grade floral scroll engraving.
Barrel Length: 22”, Tapered
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade dovetailed into a base that is fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a buckhorn square notch elevator sight that is dovetailed to the rear of the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece checkered walnut with banded forend, straight grip and checkered steel buttplate. The wood has a high gloss finish. There are some infrequently scattered nicks and scratches throughout on both rifle stock sets. Rifle 0796 shows three slightly more notable small scratches on the right side of the buttstock. There are no chips or cracks in either stock sets. The LOP measures 13 1/4? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plates on both sets have little to no wear. Overall, the stock sets for both rifles rate in about Fine-Plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: Both rifles retain about 98% of its metal finish. Rifle 0977 shows a few minor scratches on the lever. Rifle 0976 shows a slight plum hue on its lever. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, these rifles rate in Fine-Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The lever lock-up is tight and the trigger is crisp. There is a manual safety on the upper tang. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: This is a consecutive pair of Winchester model 1886 Extra Light High Grade rifles, reproductions and variants of the original Winchester designed by John Browning. The 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 design would later be shrunk for the model 1886. These modern reproductions saw a limited run of which only 1,000 were manufactured between the year 2000 and 2001. By appearances, these saw almost no use and are in Fine-Excellent condition. Don’t miss your chance to take home a consecutive pair of relatively rare, High Grade rifles, as this opportunity may not come along again any time soon. Good luck and happy bidding!