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Winchester 1887 Lever Action 12 Gauge Shotgun

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:1,800.00 - 2,500.00 USD
Winchester 1887 Lever Action 12 Gauge Shotgun
For your consideration is a very rare antique production Winchester 1887 Lever Action 12 Gauge Shotgun, serial number 64354, made in 1898. 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 a particularly attractive example that has seen no cleaning, sanding, steel wooling or abuse of any kind. The metal surfaces are smooth and show an uncleaned dark natural patina on the receiver. The barrel and magazine tube show an attractive full aged blue finish and retains a much better than normally encountered fine bright bore! The barrel top just ahead of the receiver is correctly marked “12” indicating this desirable gauge. 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 generally excellent condition showing this gun was rarely if ever taken apart. Retains the original checkered steel shotgun butt plate (these often changed or replaced with rubber recoil pads), wood is unsanded and shows excellent original finish. The wood also displays very tight wood to metal fit overall. Correct and original 30” barrel (this was the correct and standard length barrel offered by Winchester for this model). It also retains the original brass bead front sight, mechanically crisp and tight. This 121 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. Overall, a most attractive unaltered example that would be at home in the finest firearm, Winchester or Old West collection. This firearm qualifies as an Antique, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.