1051

Winchester Model 1886 Deluxe Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:4,250.00 USD Estimated At:8,500.00 - 13,000.00 USD
Winchester Model 1886 Deluxe Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter
Winchester Model 1886 Deluxe Sporting Rifle with Cody Firearms Museum letter. The letter states that this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on September 22, 1893 and returned to Winchester for repair on December 6, 1893. The letter does not specify the type of repair. The Cody letter lists the rifle features as: "45/70 caliber, octagon barrel, checkered sock with pistol grip, Lyman front and rear sights, 2/3 magazine and shotgun butt with rubber buttplate. The rifle has a blued octagon barrel and blued 2/3rds magazine. The receiver, forend cap, hammer and loading lever have a casehardened finish. The bolt and loading gate are blued. The barrel is fitted with a dovetailed front sight with nickel-silver blade and a adjustable folding leaf rear sight. A folding peep sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grade, walnut with checkered panels. The stock has an ebony inlay on the pistol grip and is fitted with a black, checkered, hard rubber shotgun buttplate embossed with "WINCHESTER/REPEATING ARMS CO." in a circle. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.-" ahead of the rear sight. The caliber ".45-70" is stamped on the top of the barrel immediately in front of the receiver.
BBL: 26 inch octagon
Stock: walnut checkered pistol
Gauge: 45/70 Govt.
Finish: casehardened/blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 83749


Fine. The rifle retains nearly 60% of the faded original blue finish on the barrel and 40% casehardened finish on the receiver, hammer and loading lever. The barrel has some finish loss at the muzzle and some wear along the edges. The magazine tube has been re-finished with 40% remaining. The forearm cap has a brown patina with some light pitting. The bottom of the receiver, loading lever and the top of the hammer have a silver patina on contact points. The sides and top of the receiver and loading lever and the sides of the hammer retain most of the vivid case colors. The bolt and loading gate have approximately 70% of the original blue finish. The barrel markings are sharp. The forearm has a small repaired crack on the upper left side and the junction with the forearm cap and the cap does not fit flush with the forearm. Both the stock and the forearm have been re-oiled and re-checkered. The hard rubber buttplate has a small chip on the lower right edge but remains in very good condition. This is a great looking example of a scarce Winchester Model 1886 Deluxe Lever Action Rifle with the very desirable, casehardened receiver, fancy walnut pistol grip stock and other special order features.