Early Winchester Model 1886 26″ Octagonal .45-90 Lever Rifle, 1887 Antique
SOLD FOR: $2575
LSB#: 210811DW26
Make: Winchester
Model: 1886
Year of Manufacture: 1887
Caliber: .45-90 WCF
Action Type: Lever Action Rifle
Serial Number: 14219
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “-MANUFACTURED BY THE- / -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.-” forward of the rear sight and “45-90 W.C.F.” behind the rear sight. The top tang is marked “-MODEL 1886-“. The bottom tang is marked -“PAT. OCT. 14. 1884. / JAN. 20. 1885”- under the lever and “14219” at the rear.
Barrel Length: 26?, Octagonal
Sights: The front sight is a steel blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The sight presents a “V”-notch when folded down with a “V”-notched slider on the ladder which is graduated from “2” to “10” in hundreds of yards. The ladder’s fit to the base is pretty tight when folded up, but there is some play when it is folded down. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none included).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There are losses on the top-left of the forend at the front, the left-rear of the forend and the top-front of the wrist on the left. The forend has a long crack on the right-rear and there are a few short cracks at the rear edge of the buttstock. The buttstock has some grain-line surface cracks. There is a filled loss in the front of the comb, possibly a notch for a previously installed folding tang sight. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has worn to white with scattered wear and discoloration from oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case-Color
Finish Originality: Remaining finish is Original, most areas appear to have had finish intentionally removed.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and some light pitting in the bore.
Overall Condition: The rifle retains approximately 10% of its metal finish. Finish remains in protected areas such as around the magazine bracket and under the forend on the barrel. Most surfaces have been worn or polished bright, showing scattered discoloration from oxidation and some minor surface erosion. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly disfigured with useable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good-Very Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly and smoothly. The lever locks up solidly. 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 / Accessories: None
Our Assessment: The 1886 is another of John Browning’s industry-changing designs. It is our favorite Winchester here, certainly the strongest built at the time and function leads to beauty. The 1886 was available in a variety of cartridges over its nearly 40 years of production and, while there were standard configurations, there were also special-order features which led to a wide number of variations available to the collector today. This is a nice example of an 1886, and quite early. Made in 1887, the rifle is chambered for .45-90, one of the original three chamberings offered for the model, and has a 26″ octagonal barrel. It looks like someone started surface prep for restoration, and this rifle would be well worth restoring. It still has strong mechanics and good markings. It will make a nice addition to a Winchester collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!