Winchester 1886 .40-65 WCF 26″ Octagon Lever Action Rifle 1892 Antique
SOLD FOR: $2,475.00
LSB#: LSB260602CL043
Make: Winchester
Model: 1886
Serial Number: 65293
Year of Manufacture: 1892 Antique
Caliber: .40-65 WCF
Action Type: Tubular Magazine Fed Lever Action Rifle
Barrel Length: 26″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade that is dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a Marbles adjustable U notch dovetailed into the barrel. The upper tang is drilled and tapped for a peep sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is two piece smooth walnut, capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and crescent iron buttplate. The LOP is 13 1/4″ from trigger to buttplate. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There are some minor cracks at the wrist. There are repaired cracks on the forend. There are small chips at the edges throughout. Overall this stock is in Fair to Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Color Case
Finish Originality: Original.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright. The rifling is defined. There is some minor erosion. There is some notable corrosion pitting. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates 6/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains virtually none of its original blued finish. The bluing has worn to brown patina with corrosion staining. The color case on the receiver is muted with corrosion staining. There are scratches throughout. The screw heads are tooled but serviceable. The markings are clear. Overall this rifle is in Fair to Good condition.
Mechanics: This rifle appears to function correctly. The lever lock-up is tight and the trigger is crisp. 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: The Winchester Model 1886 is one of John M. Browning’s strongest and most celebrated lever-action designs, developed to handle the powerful large-bore cartridges that exceeded the capabilities of Winchester’s earlier toggle-link actions. This 1892 antique example is chambered in .40-65 W.C.F. and features a 26″ barrel, full-length tubular magazine, straight-grip walnut furniture, crescent iron buttplate, and a later Marbles adjustable rear sight. Its large-bore chambering and full-length rifle configuration give it the classic form of a late-19th-century Winchester sporting rifle.
Introduced in 1886, the Model 1886 represented a major advancement in lever-action strength through Browning’s vertically locking action. The .40-65 W.C.F. was one of the period sporting cartridges offered in the platform, providing hunters with a substantial projectile while producing somewhat milder recoil than Winchester’s heavier big-bore offerings. Rifles in this chambering were well suited to the deer, elk, and other large game hunting of their era, and surviving antique examples remain desirable for their association with Winchester’s classic black-powder sporting-rifle period.
This rifle retains virtually none of its original blued finish, with the metal worn to brown patina and showing corrosion staining and scattered scratches, while the receiver’s original case colors have largely muted. The walnut stocks rate in Fair to Good condition with scratches, compression dents, minor wrist cracks, repaired forend cracks, and scattered edge chips. The semi-bright bore has defined rifling and rates 6/10 due to minor erosion and more notable corrosion pitting. The action appears to function correctly, the lever locks up tightly, and the trigger is crisp. Overall, this is a Fair to Good antique Model 1886 with desirable .40-65 W.C.F. chambering and strong historical character. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! MF