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VERY RARE Winchester 1887 Lever 12 Gauge Shotgun

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:1,800.00 - 2,500.00 USD
VERY RARE Winchester 1887 Lever 12 Gauge Shotgun
Very rare and early production Winchester 1887 Lever Action 12 Gauge Shotgun, serial number 34214, made the fourth year of production in 1891! This model was designed by John Browning and brought Winchester into the forefront of the repeating shotgun business. The 1887 was cherished for its reliability and fire power. Many were used by freight carriers like Wells Fargo, train guards, prison guards and lawmen of the West. Sportsmen who were used to handling lever action rifles also found favor with the 1887 lever action shotgun. Most examples found today show very hard frontier and field use and often display considerable abuse and replaced parts. This is an early example that retains all of its original parts. The metal surfaces are smooth and show an uncleaned mottled case color patina on the receiver. The barrel shows an attractive blue finish that appears to have only light normal thinning and retains a much better than usually encountered fine bore! The Winchester markings and patent dates on the lower tang are correct and sharp as is the “WRA Co” (Winchester Repeating Arms Company) entwined logo on the left side of the receiver. The screws are in fine condition. It further retains the original checkered steel shotgun butt plate (these often changed or replaced with rubber recoil pads), wood is unsanded and shows only typical light handling and no abuse. The wood also displays very tight wood to metal fit overall. Correct and original 32” barrel (this was the longest length barrel offered by Winchester for this model) retains the original brass bead front sight, mechanically crisp and tight. This 132 year old Winchester is a very difficult historical model to locate in any condition and this one is far above most that have survived to the present. Serial Number: 34214. This firearm qualifies as an Antique, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.