Winchester 1886 86 Takedown, Blue 26″ Octagonal Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1896 Antique .45-90 Win.

SOLD FOR: $5,305.00
LSB#: 180918JR48

Make: Winchester

Model: 1886, Takedown

Year of Manufacture: 1896

Caliber: .45-90

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle

Serial Number: 107794

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “-MANUFACTURED BY THE- / -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.-” forward of the rear sight and “45-90 W.C.F.” behind the rear sight. The top tang is marked “-MODEL 1886-“. The bottom tang is marked -“PAT. OCT. 14. 1884. / JAN. 20. 1885”- under the lever and “107794” behind. The magazine latch is marked “-PAT. JUNE 6. 1893-“.

Barrel Length: 26″ Nominal, 25 7/8″ Measured, Octagonal

Sights: The front sight is a Lyman blade with checkered ramp and white bead in a base dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch semi-buckhorn leaf and elevator sight with the notch fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled to accept a peep-sight (none included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The forend has some scattered light compressions, drag lines and nicks with a more notable scrape on the right under teh rear sight. The buttstock has scattered licht compressions, drag lines, scratches and nicks with some weathering at the toe and a gouge on the left of the wrist at the front. There are no chips or cracks. The wood is proud to the metal. The LOP measures 13 1/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has worn to white with scattered light surface oxidation, scratches, scrapes and wear at the heel and toe, in about Very Good condition as Antique. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good-plus condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Overall Condition: The rifle retains approximately 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has fairly strong finish in the flats with scattered spots of light surface oxidation, nicks along the edges, a spot of finish wear on the right just forward of the nosecap, and a few spots of solid erosion. The magazine tube has finish wear at its lug from disassembly, some scattered light marks and spots of surface oxidation. The nosecap has scattered freckling, light surface oxidation and finish wear. The receiver has scattered light scratches and patches of surface oxidation, more on the left with some scrubbed out and handling wear on the bottom. The lever has scattered light surface oxidation and operational wear. The bolt has strong finish with infrequent light freckling and light operational wear. The screw heads are generally sharp with some showing light tool marks with strong slots. Screw heads are sharp with light-moderate finish loss. The hammer knurling is well defined. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Fine condition as Antique.

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is very light erosion scattered in the bore.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly and smoothly. The trigger is crisp. The lever locks up tight. The hammer has a half-cock position. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box / Accessories: None

Our Assessment: The 1886 is another of John Browning’s industry-changing designs. It is our favorite Winchester here, certainly the strongest built at the time and function leads to beauty. The 1886 was available in a variety of cartridges over its nearly 40 years of production and, while there were standard configurations, there were also special-order features which led to a wide number of variations available to the collector today. This is a takedown rifle with a 26″ octagonal barrel and full-length magazine tube chambered for .45-90 WCF produced in 1896. The rifle retains approximately 85% of its original finish and has a nice bore for a 122 year old rifle that likely saw use with black powder. The wood has nicer grain than we’re used to seeing on standard stocks and may be special order stocks. At 8 lbs. 10 oz., this rifle isn’t particularly light, but it makes up for that by having the capacity of a full-length magazine tube and being able to take down for transportation and storage. Altogether, this is a beautiful example of a Winchester 1886 takedown with its original finsh, a great opportunity for the Winchester collector. Please see our pictures and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This Antique rifle can be transferred/sold in California. All cartridge firing firearms sold in CA must be DROS’d, including C&R and Antique.