Custom Winchester Model 1886 38-70 WCF Lever Action Rifle Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,897.99
LSB# LSB260707JR007
Make: Winchester
Model: 1886
Serial Number: 3431
Year of Manufacture: 1886 Antique
Caliber: .38-70 Winchester
Action Type: Lever Action with Button-Length Tubular Magazine
Barrel Length: 25 3/4″ Half Octagon
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a silver blade dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is a spring leaf V notch with elevator 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 shotgun style iron buttplate. The LOP is 13 1/4″ from trigger to buttplate. This stock is a replacement. Finish has been added. The forend lines have been altered from sanding. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There are no structural cracks. Overall this stock is in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Case Colored
Finish Originality: Original to custom build
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright. The rifling is well defined. There is light erosion and pitting scattered throughout. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates 8/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains virtually none of its original metal finish. The barrel has worn to patina. There are scratches and toolmarks scattered throughout. There are light corrosion pits scattered throughout. The screw heads are tooled but serviceable. The markings are clear. Overall this rifle is in Fair to Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly though. 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: Included is a Cody Firearms Records Office records search.
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1886 was one of John M. Browning’s strongest and most important lever-action designs, developed to handle the powerful cartridges that exceeded the capabilities of Winchester’s earlier toggle-link rifles. This receiver originally left Winchester as a standard round-barreled rifle chambered in .45-70 Government, as confirmed by the included Cody Firearms Records Office search. It has since been extensively customized into its present .38-70 WCF configuration with a nominal 26″ half-octagon barrel, button magazine, replacement walnut furniture, and shotgun-style buttplate. The .38-70 WCF was introduced by Winchester in 1894 specifically for the Model 1886, so the current chambering necessarily represents a later alteration to this early receiver.
This custom Model 1886 retains virtually none of its original factory metal finish, with the barrel and other exposed surfaces aged to patina and showing scattered scratches, tool marks, light corrosion, and pitting. The replacement walnut furniture has received added finish and shows altered forend contours from sanding, scratches, and compression dents but remains structurally sound. The mostly bright .38-70 bore retains well-defined rifling with light scattered erosion and pitting and rates 8/10. The action functions correctly. Although substantially removed from its factory .45-70 configuration, this remains an interesting custom big-bore Model 1886 built on a very early Winchester receiver and chambered for the comparatively scarce .38-70 WCF cartridge. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! MF