GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
EXTREMELY RARE SEMI-DELUXE SPECIAL ORDER WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 BIG 50 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.WINCHESTER18867608450EXPCal 50 EX (50-110). Very rare semi-deluxe rifle with 26" #1 weight heavy oct bbl, full magazine, sporting front sight, platinum line 3-leaf express rear sight and Lyman tang sight with duplex aperture. Receiver has single set trigger. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with black insert, serpentine grip buttstock that has smooth steel shotgun buttplate. Bottom of stock & forend cap have factory sling swivels. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number "726" and "CFS". Matching assembly number is found in top tang channel of buttstock. Inside toe of buttplate has the assembly number "471". Rear face of buttstock has 2 extra holes where it appears that there may have been a rubber buttplate at one time that was changed to its current configuration. The heel screw hole is stripped. This rifle was produced about 1893 undoubtedly purchased as a hunting rifle. This caliber was capable of taking any major game animal in the world, especially any North American big game such as Moose, Elk or Grizzly Bears. The caliber was also a favorite for the African dangerous game hunter. As such, these rifles usually saw hard service with exposure to the elements on a regular basis. Exposure to the ultraviolet rays of sunlight quickly fades case colors. The fact that this rifle remains in pristine condition attests to the premise that it saw very little outdoor use. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum Records Office worksheet which identifies this rifle in caliber 50-110 with oct bbl, extra heavy, set trigger, plain pistol grip stock with shotgun butt and Lyman rear sight, received in warehouse March 9 1893 and shipped the next day to order # 15305. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, matching as noted above. Bbl & magazine tube retain about 99% crisp orig factory blue with one ding and a couple of small nicks about mid-point on right side of bbl. Receiver & forend cap retain virtually all of their orig case colors, brilliant on sides of receiver. Bottom edge of receiver has the second lacquer coat lines. Lever & hammer retain virtually all of their bright case colors, a little more faded on right side of lever. Forend cap retains virtually all of its bright orig case colors. Stock has a repaired small sliver by the left of the top tang otherwise wood is sound with 1 or 2 very minor handling & storage nicks in the finish and retains virtually all of its orig factory finish. The area around the buttplate is a slightly lighter color and at one time may have had a slip on recoil pad. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Appears to be new & unfired with factory grease still in the receiver. 51687-3 JRL (40,000-65,000)