Early Winchester Model 1886 26″ .40-82 WCF Lever Action Rifle, 1888 Antique

SOLD FOR: $1,326.00

LSB#: WY241019DB039

Make: Winchester

Model: 1886

Serial Number: 15930

Year of Manufacture: 1888

Caliber: The barrel is marked .40-82 WCF, but the bore has been re-lined. We do not have a .40-82 cartridge to test-fit in the chamber. The chamber should be cast to confirm exact chambering before firing.

Action Type: Lever Action with Full-Length Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a globe-style sight with a post insert dovetailed to the front of the barrel. There is an empty dovetail at the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled and tapped with a folding tang sight installed, adjustable for windage and elevation. The sights are not original to the rifle. 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and crescent steel buttplate. The fit of the buttstock to the tangs likely indicates it is a replacement. It shows notable sanding in the belly and the fit to the buttplate is poor with fill visible around the edges of the plate. There is a crack at the right-front of the forend. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The LOP measures 12 5/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has some grinding and appears to have also been altered at the toe to match the buttstock. The plate appears to be cast with a vertical mold seam-line. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition as modified and/or refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: No finish remains.

Finish Originality: Areas appear to have had the finish intentionally removed.

Bore Condition: The bore has been re-lined. The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is a little minor erosion and scattered stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7 or 8 as re-lined.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 0% of its metal finish. The surfaces have worn or been polished to white. There is scattered surface erosion and oxidation. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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: An Action brand slip-on pad is included.

Our Assessment: Winchester’s first attempt at a lever action rifle capable of handling a rifle cartridge was the Model 1876, which was a heavier framed version of the Model 1873. However, the toggle-link action used in the gun was still limited to short cartridges like the .40-60 and .45-60 Win. The Model 1886 was designed for Winchester by John Moses Browning to handle longer cartridges like the .45-70 Govt., the .45-90 Win. and .50-110 Win. cartridges. The Model 1886 utilized a locked-bolt action that was much stronger than the M1876, and some think it is faster and smoother as well. The Winchester Model 1886 was touted as a lever action express model, capable of handling any of the North American game animals.

This rifle was made in 1888 and appears to have had a long and useful life. Someone wanted to keep this one going, so it has had its stocks refinished and/or replaced as well as having the bore re-lined. The original chambering was .40-82, but the new chamber should be cast to confirm before firing. With its strong mechanics and new bore, this may still prove to be a good shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud  

Early Winchester Model 1886 26" .40-82 WCF Lever Action Rifle, 1888 Antique
Early Winchester Model 1886 26″ .40-82 WCF Lever Action Rifle, 1888 Antique