June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
Full octagon barrel with sporting front sight and elevator adjustable rear sight. Full magazine. Two piece American straight grained walnut stocks finished with factory varnish and crescent butt. Vivid case colored receiver with matching case colors on fore end cap and buttplate. Two line Winchester New Haven address. This outstanding rifle is as new and has no indication of actual use. Accompanied by Cody Firearms Research document confirming configuration and manufacture dates as: rifle, caliber .40-82 Winchester, octagon barrel, plain trigger; received in warehouse March 26th, 1891 and shipped from warehouse April 17th, 1891. The 1886 was Winchester's perfected large bore high powered lever action rifle. These rifles where purchased and used extensively throughout the Rocky Mountains as well as the Western frontier. The North Woods of America where these big bore rifles were used to hunt most all big game, as well as utilized by lawmen in the course of their duties. This is just a few of the reasons that these early production rifles are very infrequently found in extremely fine condition. This example is in an unprecedented state of original preservation. There is only the slightest trace of edge wear at the muzzle and several minute pressure marks from handling and storage in the fore arm and butt stock. Virtually all the original factory applied blue finish remains. The case colors are near perfection with all the factory lacquer remaining on the receiver and fore end cap. slight edge wear at edges of buttplate. The hammer and lever have most all of the vivid colors and the lever still has the slight puddles of excess lacquer just as it did when it left the factory. This outstanding example could not be improved upon. After 127 years this rifle is a true time capsule. From the Ray Bentley Collection.