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Exceptional Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle with Casehardened Receiver and Factory Letter

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:22,500.00 - 27,500.00 USD
Exceptional Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle with Casehardened Receiver and Factory Letter
This is a truly exceptional original example of a Winchester Model 1886 Sporting Rifle. The letter states that this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on June 14, 1894 and lists the caliber as "45-90" with "octagon barrel" and "plain trigger". No mention of the half magazine is made, but is undoubtedly original and surely an oversight in the records. The rifle has a 26-inch, full octagon barrel, half-magazine, crescent steel buttplate and varnished walnut stock and forearm. The barrel is blued and the forearm cap, receiver, hammer, loading lever and buttplate have a color casehardened finish. The bolt and loading gate have a high polish blue finish. The barrel is fitted with a sporting style rear sight and dovetailed, nickel-silver, fixed blade front sight. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "-MANUFACTURED BY THE- / - WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.-" ahead of the rear sight and the caliber, "45-90 W.F.C." between the rear sight and the receiver. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "-MODEL 1886-" and the lower receiver tang is stamped with the two-line 1884 and 1885 patent dates behind the trigger and the serial number, "89154" between the tang screws.
BBL: 26 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 45-90 WCF
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 89154


Excellent. The rifle retains 98% of the original blue and casehardened finish. Wear is limited to some very minor spotting on the left side of the barrel below the front sight. The case colors on the sides of the receiver and forearm cap are vivid. Most of the high polish blue finish is present on the bolt and loading lever. The stock and forearm are in excellent plus condition with minimal handling wear and nearly all of the original varnish finish. The barrel and receiver markings are crisp. The bore is bright. This is an exceptional example of an early production Winchester Model 1866 Sporting Rifle with highly desirable casehardened receiver.