Winchester Model 1886 1/2 Mag Shotgun Butt .33 WCF Lever Rifle, 1909 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,425.00
LSB#: WY240907NH048
Make: Winchester
Model: 1886
Year of Manufacture: 1909
Caliber: .33 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)
Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Half-Length Tubular Magazine
Serial Number: 144337
Barrel Length: 24″, Round
Sights: The front sight is a Marble No. 2 beaded blade dovetailed to a base fixed to the front of the barrel. The bead is missing. The rear sight is a marble folding “U”-notch sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel; the notch can be reversed to present a “V”-notch and is fine-adjustable for elevation. The sights are not original to the rifle. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and checkered black hard rubber shotgun-style Winchester buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is handling and finish wear toward the rear of the forend. There are a few more notable scrapes on the right of the buttstock. There is a large repair at the toe. There is a short crack at the buttplate inlet in the heel. The LOP measures 13 1/8? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has moderate wear at the heel and toe, otherwise having fairly well defined checkering. Overall, the stocks are in Good-plus condition as repaired.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6 or 7 out of 10.
Overall Condition: The rifle retains approximately 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has generally strong finish with some light wear at the top-rear and a few scattered light marks. The magazine cap is mostly worn to white, but the exposed portion of the tube has strong finish. Most of the balance is scattered finish wear in the receiver. The receiver has some scattered light nicks, scratches, and spots of minor oxidation. The top tang has light wear consistent with a previously installed tang sight. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box / Accessories: This rifle comes with a Winchester factory records letter indicating it was produced as a Rifle, caliber .33, round barrel, plain trigger, 1/2 magazine, shotgun butt, rubber, received in warehouse October 9, 1909 and shipped October 22, 1909 on order number 230669.
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 rifle is chambered for the .33 WCF cartridge, a standard chambering for the 1886 from 1903 until the model was discontinued. The .33 WCF is a good medium-range hunting cartridge, with performance roughly equivalent to or slightly better than .35 Remington. The rifle was ordered with a half-length magazine and a shotgun butt. It has been equipped with a set of vintage Marble sights. At 115 years old, it appears to have seen use in the field, having a repair in the stock and some light erosion in the bore, retaining strong mechanics and the majority of its original finish. It would display well as-is and should make for a fun shooter, whether you’re looking to add to a collection or take this classic back out in the field. This is a nice old Winchester, perfect for any collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
