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Winchester 1887 Lever Action 12 Gauge Shotgun

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:1,600.00 - 2,300.00 USD
Winchester 1887 Lever Action 12 Gauge Shotgun
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Very rare and early production Winchester 1887 Lever Action 12 Gauge Shotgun, serial number 20784, made the second year of production in 1888! 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 has seen little if any cleaning of the metal surfaces. The receiver displays an attractive uncleaned dark natural patina while the barrel and magazine tube show an aged plum/brown finish that is much better than normally encountered on such an early example of this model. It also has a fine bore that shows only light, surface roughness. 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. This 1887 Model also retains the original checkered steel shotgun butt plate (these often changed or replaced with rubber recoil pads), wood on both the stock and forend is solid. Correct and original 30” barrel (this was the standard length barrel offered by Winchester for this model), retains the original brass bead front sight. This example is also mechanically crisp and tight. This 131 year old Winchester is a very difficult historical model to locate in any condition and this one is better than most that have survived to the present. It was recently collected here in Montana. This firearm qualifies as an Antique, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check. Matt