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Semi-Deluxe Winchester Model 1886 Sporting Rifle with Plain Pistol Grip Stock with Factory Letter

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,750.00 USD Estimated At:7,500.00 - 10,000.00 USD
Semi-Deluxe Winchester Model 1886 Sporting Rifle with Plain Pistol Grip Stock with Factory Letter
Winchester Model 1886 Sporting Rifle with factory letter that states the rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on May 15, 1888. The letter states that rifle was chambered for the .40-82 W.C.F. cartridge and equipped with an octagon barrel, plain trigger and plain pistol grip stock. The barrel, full length magazine, bolt and loading gate have a blue finish. The forearm cap, receiver, loading lever, hammer and crescent steel buttplate are color casehardened. The straight grain walnut stock and forearm have a varnish finish and the pistol grip has an ebony inlay. The barrel is fitted with a nickel-silver, fixed blade, front sight and a sporting style rear sight. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "- MANUFACTURED BY THE - / - WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A. - " in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The caliber, "38-56 W.C.F." is stamped between the rear sight and the receiver. The barrel appears to be original to the rifle; the .40-82 caliber listed in the Winchester letter may be the result of a mistake in the factory records or in transcription. The top of the receiver tang is roll-stamped: "-MODEL 1886-". The underside of the tang is stamped with the 1884 and 1885 patent dates behind the trigger and has the serial number "16825" between the tang screws.
BBL: 26 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 38-56 WCF
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 16825


Fine. The barrel, magazine tube and bolt have 70% of the original faded blue finish; the finish on the loading gate is thinning. The forearm cap and receiver retain 30% of the original casehardened finish with strong case colors in protected areas and some silvering on contact points. The case colors on the loading lever and buttplate have faded to a silver-gray patina. The lightly sanded stock and forearm are revarnished showing only very limited handling wear. The barrel and receiver markings are crisp. This is a solid representative example of a Winchester Model 1886 Sporting Rifle with desirable pistol grip stock and casehardened receiver.