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VERY RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 LEVER ACTION MUSKET.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
VERY RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 LEVER ACTION MUSKET.
SN 81878. Cal. 45-70. Standard grade musket with 30" bbl, square base front sight/bayonet lug and ski jump 1,000 yard musket rear sight. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with full length forearm and straight stock with carbine/musket buttplate with trap containing an orig 5-pc all-steel cleaning rod. Forearm is secured with a sgl band and Model 1876 carbine/musket style forend cap. Bbl band has a sling loop with corresponding loop in the buttstock. Accompanied by an orig 18-1/2" triangular socket bayonet with leather scabbard that has iron tip & white buckskin throat. Also accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this musket in caliber 45-70, received in warehouse Sept. 19, 1893 and shipped next day with 22 other arms to Order #24059. Also accompanied by a 3-page letter from renowned Winchester historian & author, George Madis, wherein he authenticates this musket and details much of the above information. According to Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms and The Winchester Book, Madis, there were only about 350 of these rare muskets ever produced, making them the most rare of Winchester lever action muskets except for the Model 1894 of which only five were produced as experimental prototypes. PROVENANCE: Barnes Family Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains about 90% strong orig blue with some light discoloration; receiver retains 70-75% orig case colors, bright on right side, faded & mixed with patina on left side & bottom; hammer retains about 80% bright case colors and the lever traces of case colors; buttplate retains some dark case colors on the tang. Wood is sound with a few, very light nicks & scratches and retains a hand worn patina. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore. Bayonet retains most of its orig bright polish on the blade, starting to gain a little patina on the socket; scabbard has a slight loss on the outer ridge, otherwise is sound and retains most of its orig finish with bright white buckskin throat. 4-47629 JR226