GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE. WINCHESTER 1886 8509 38-56 IVORY Cal. .38-56. Early ''86 with 26" oct bbl, full magazine, Lyman "certifiable antique ivory" bead hunting front sight, semi-buckhorn rear sight and Lyman combination tang sight. Mounted with about 3x, center crotch, feather and flame grain American walnut with H-style checkered forearm and straight stock with crescent buttplate. Left side of lower tang, under wood is marked with the assembly number "721" & "XXX". Matching assembly number is found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. This rifle was produced in about 1887 at a time when the west was still wild and long-range, big caliber rifles were in great demand for both hunting and protection. Generally, those arms of that era saw continuous hard service under harsh conditions, often with little or no maintenance and are rarely found today with high orig finish. Simple exposure to ultra-violet rays of sunlight will fade case colors. That this rifle survived until today with high orig finish attests to the probability that it belonged to someone of higher standing or a wealthy rancher who used it very little. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains about 95% strong orig blue, turning a little plum showing light muzzle and sharp edge wear with a couple of tiny nicks. Magazine tube retains about 98% orig blue turning a little plumming. Receiver retains about 80-85% orig case colors, brilliant on left side with partial, orig lacquer coating. Right side and top edge are heavily faded and bottom edge has turned silver from carrying. Hammer retains bright case colors on sides and rear edge, turned silver on top. Lever retains strong case color on left side somewhat more faded on right side and outer faces. Forend cap retains about 50% faded case colors. Buttplate retains smoky case colors. Wood is sound with light nicks and scratches, a small bruise on forearm with buttstock retaining about 95% strong piano varnish finish, possibly an old restoration. Forearm shows dark staining on bottom rear and retains about 70% matching finish. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore shows very little use. 49533-1 JR (15,000-25,000)