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Extraordinary Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle from the Bi-Metallic Mining Co. with Factory

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Rifles Start Price:22,500.00 USD Estimated At:45,000.00 - 65,000.00 USD
Extraordinary Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle from the Bi-Metallic Mining Co. with Factory
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Extraordinary Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle from the Bi-Metallic Mining Co. with Factory Letter

Winchester Model 1886 rifle with letter from the Cody Firearms Museum. The Cody letter lists the rifle features as 40/82 caliber, with octagon barrel and plain trigger and states that it was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on November 10, 1890. Also included with the rifle is a 1985-dated letter from Perry C. Yob. The Yob letter states: "This rifle was originally purchased for use in guarding silver bullion shipments from the Granite Bi-Metallic Mines near Philipsburg, Granite County, MT.". The letter further states that this rifle was stored in a cabinet at the Bi-Metallic office building and was passed to the author by his father who purchased the mine in 1944. The rifle has a blue octagon barrel, full-length magazine, loading gate and bolt. The receiver, hammer, lever, forearm cap and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are oil-finished straight grain American walnut. The rifle has a standard sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and a sporting style rear sight with serrated edges and sliding insert. The upper receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped. The top of the octagon barrel is roll-stamped with the legend, "- MANUFACTURED BY THE - / -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. -" in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The caliber designation "40-82 W.C.F." is stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "-MODEL 1886-". The lower tang is stamped with the 1884 and 1886 patent dates behind the trigger. The serial number, "44014" is stamped in script numerals between the lever latch and the rear tang screw.

Manufucture: Winchester
Model: 1886
BBL: 26 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Guage: 40-82 WCF
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 44014

Excellent plus near new. The rifle is all original and shows minimal wear. At least 99% of the original blue and color casehardened finish remain intact. The blue finish on the barrel, magazine, bolt and loading gate shows minimal wear. The receiver, hammer, lever and forearm cap have brilliant case colors. The case colors on the buttplate are more muted but remain at least 98% intact. The stock and forearm are in excellent condition and retain nearly all of the original oil finish; wear is limited to some shallow marks on the underside of the forearm near the receiver that probably resulted from contact with a rifle rack. Aside from those minor marks, the rifle remains in nearly new condition. The action functions perfectly. This is a nearly new and well-documented example of a standard grade Model 1886 rifle. It would be extremely difficult to improve upon this outstanding Winchester Model 1886 rifle. This is undoubtedly the finest example of a casehardened standard Winchester Model 1886 we have ever offered at auction!