October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/22/2019
Exceptionally fine and desirable Model 1886 Winchester first year of production rifle chambered for .45-70 Government Cartridge. 26" full octagon barrel with nickel bladed drift adjustable front sight and the appropriate 1876 dated ladder adjustable rear sight. Full magazine, varnished American walnut stocks with crescent butt plate. Obvious first week of production and has been cherished for over 133 years as the rifle shows little or no actual use. Blue and case color finishes. CONDITION: The barrel and tube retain well over 95% deep factory blue finish with losses limited to crowns of the barrel flats and leading edges of the muzzle. The richly case colored receiver retains over 95% vivid case colors with most all the factory applied lacquer remaining with losses at belly of frame as is to expected from limited handling. The lever, hammer, crescent butt plate and forend cap all retain most all of the case colors and tremendous amounts of the factory lacquer. The varnished straight grained American walnut stocks are exceptionally fine with most with varnish losses contained to the very leading edge of the confluence of the wrist to the lower tang. Several minor compressions and bruises are evident and are to be expected. The bore is near pristine and the action operates properly and locks up tight. A finer example of a low number 1886 would nearly be impossible to obtain. This rifle has been in a private collection since 2004 and had only been offered for sale at that time in recent history. TDW
Caliber/Bore
.45-70 Government