Early 1st Year Winchester 1887 ’87 30″ 12 GA Lever Action Shotgun, Antique

SOLD FOR $1,505.00

 LSB#: LSB251208TH001

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms Co.

Model: 1887

Serial Number: 409

Year of Manufacture: 1887

Caliber: 12 Gauge

Action Type: Lever Action, Tubular Magazine Shotgun

Barrel Length: 30″

Choke: Improved Cylinder, Fixed

Sights / Optics: The receiver has a shallow groove and the front sight is a brass bead screwed to the front of the barrel.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are walnut with a two-piece forend secured by one screw and one-piece buttstock with pistol grip and stippled steel buttplate. The forend retaining screw is missing half of the head, it is no longer turnable. The stippling on the buttplate is not factory. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There are some scattered flecks of white paint in the buttstock. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 12 5/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly gone to a light patina with edges worn to white. Overall, the stocks are in Good-Very Good condition as refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: None

Finish Originality: The finish appears to have been intentionally removed.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray. There is light erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 5-6/10.

Overall Condition: The metal surfaces have been polished bright. There is scattered light surface oxidation and some minor surface erosion. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is adhesive residue on the barrel and magazine toward the rear. There is some residue from the stocks’ new finish, mostly around the wrist. The lifter stop on the right of the receiver has been replaced with a brass piece. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are generally sharp or lightly tool marked with strong slots. As noted above, the forend mounting screw is broken with an unusable head. The markings remain surprisingly clear given the polishing. Overall, this shotgun is in Good condition as Antique.

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

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a bandolier with a total of 23 brass cases, 2x S. Paulo primed empty cases, 5x fired Winchester cases, 1x fired Remington UMC cases, 10x fired ALCAN cases, and 5x loaded Winchester 00 Buck cases (these should not be fired in this shotgun for safety reasons). 

Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1887 was the first truly successful repeating shotgun. Its unique lever-action design was chosen by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, and designed by the legendary designer, John Moses Browning to complement their popular lever-action rifles. The whole firearm itself is a remarkable engineering accomplishment. Originally chambered in 12 gauge only, this 1st Year production model has strong mechanics and a decent bore, especially for a 139 year old gun which would have seen use almost exclusively with black powder. This will make a nice addition to the collection of any Winchester collector, of fine antique firearms, or aficionados of the American West. Please see our photos and good luck!

-Bud