Winchester Model 1886 26″ 45-70 Govt Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1888 Antique
SOLD FOR: $3,408.00
LSB# LSB260611FA011
Make: Winchester
Model: 1886
Serial Number: 23048
Year of Manufacture: 1888 Antique
Caliber: .45-70 Government
Action Type: Lever Action with Full-Length Tubular Magazine
Barrel Length: 26″, Octagonal
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 crescent iron buttplate. The LOP is 13″ from trigger to buttplate. This stock has been refinished. There are areas where sanding has left the metal proud. There are scratches and compression dents throughout, some have been finished over. There is oil darkening at the wrist. There is iron staining at the buttplate. There are some small chips and gouges scattered throughout. There is a repair on the left side of the stock. There are no cracks. Overall this stock is in Good condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blue, with inlaid Gold borders on the frame.
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright. There is erosion and pitting throughout. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates 4/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its current bluing. This rifle has been engraved outside the factory. There are polish marks that show through the bluing. There are scratches and handling marks scattered throughout. The screw heads are lightly tooled but serviceable. There barrel has some light play to the receiver. The markings have been remarked and are clear. Overall this rifle is in Good.
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 most important lever-action designs, created to give Winchester a repeating rifle capable of handling powerful big-bore cartridges beyond the practical limits of the earlier toggle-link actions. Introduced in 1886, the Model 1886 was offered in a wide range of cartridges including .45-70 Government, .45-90 WCF, .40-82 WCF, and .50-110 Express, and nearly 160,000 were eventually produced. The standard solid-frame Sporting Rifle was furnished with a 26″ octagonal barrel, full-length magazine, straight-grip walnut stock, and steel crescent buttplate, matching the basic configuration of this example. Serial number 23048 falls within 1888 production; Winchester’s factory-derived serialization table lists serial number 14728 as the end of 1887 and 28577 as the end of 1888.
This 1888 Model 1886 has been extensively refinished and altered from its original factory appearance. It currently retains about 95% of its applied blue finish, with visible polish marks beneath the blue, scattered scratches and handling wear, reworked markings, and non-factory engraving. The refinished walnut furniture shows sanding, scattered scratches and compression dents, oil darkening, iron staining, small chips and gouges, and a repair on the left side of the buttstock. The semi-bright bore shows erosion and pitting throughout and rates 4/10. More importantly, the barrel is somewhat loose in the receiver. Although the action itself functions correctly, the barrel has some play to the receiver. Despite its extensive restoration, this remains an antique Winchester Model 1886 in the classic .45-70 Government sporting-rifle configuration, accompanied by a Cody Firearms Records Office search. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! MF