Winchester Model 1887 12GA 30″ Lever Action Shotgun 1891 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,327.98
LSB# LSB260612DH002
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms Co.
Model: 1887
Serial Number: 38877
Year of Manufacture: 1891 Antique
Caliber: 12 Gauge, 2 5/8″ chamber
Capacity: 5+2
Action Type: Lever Action, Tubular Magazine Shotgun
Barrel Length: 30″
Choke: Full, Fixed
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a bead drilled and tapped into the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a shallow groove on the front of the receiver.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are walnut with a two-piece forend and one-piece buttstock with pistol grip and checkered steel buttplate. The LOP is 13″ from trigger to buttplate. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There are small scattered chips. There are some small cracks at the buttplate. Overall this stock is in Good condition as antique
Type of Finish: Blued, Case Colored
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray. There is erosion and pitting evenly distributed throughout. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates 7/10.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 15% of its original finish. The majority of the metal has worn to a brown patina with corrosion staining. There are scratches scattered throughout. There is handling and operational wear. The screw heads are tooled but serviceable. The markings are faint. Overall this shotgun is in Good condition as antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, the lever moves smoothly, and the trigger trips the hammer. We cycled snap caps through. We have not test-fired this gun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1887 was one of John M. Browning’s most distinctive designs and one of the first commercially successful repeating shotguns. Winchester requested a lever-operated design to complement its established rifle line, and Browning responded with the unusual lever-action rolling-block mechanism that became the Model 1887. Production began in May 1887 and continued through 1899, with 64,855 manufactured before the strengthened Model 1901 succeeded it. The Model 1887 was offered in 12 gauge with a 2 5/8″ black-powder chamber and in 10 gauge with a 2 7/8″ chamber. Winchester identifies 30″ and 32″ rolled-steel barrels as standard configurations, while Damascus barrels and other lengths were available as special-order features. Receiver frames were factory case color hardened.
This example retains about 15% of its original blue and case-colored finish, with most of the metal having aged to brown patina accompanied by corrosion staining, scratches, and normal handling and operational wear. The walnut furniture remains in Good antique condition with scattered scratches, compression dents, small chips, and minor cracks around the buttplate. The gray bore shows evenly distributed erosion and pitting and rates 7/10. Mechanically, the lever operates smoothly, the trigger releases the hammer correctly, and the shotgun successfully cycled snap caps during testing. With its 30″ barrel, 12-gauge chambering, original lever-action mechanism, and substantial antique character, this remains an interesting example of one of Browning’s most unusual Winchester designs. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! MF