GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
SCARCE FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 LEVER ACTION RIFLE WITH FACTORY LETTER. WINCHESTER 1886 1991 40-82 ESA Cal 40-82. Standard grade rifle with 26" rnd bbl, full magazine, ivory bead sporting front sight & sesmi-buckhorn rear sight that has been filed flat. Receiver is color case hardened. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which verifies this rifle in caliber 40-82, with round bbl and plain trigger, received in warehouse Dec. 6, 1886 and shipped Jan. 14, 1887 to order #14623. This rifle was produced in 1886 when Big Bore repeating rifles were in great demand on the American frontier, both as hunting arms & self defense weapons. They were very popular also with law enforcement & outlaws. These early guns usually saw very hard service and are rarely found today with high orig finish. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Bbl retains 85-88% orig blue turning a little dull & thin on the upper half with one area of fine surface etching. Magazine tube retains about 95% orig blue. Receiver retains about 70-75% orig case colors, strong & bright on the sides, faded to silver on top & bottom. Hammer retains strong case colors, turned brown on the spur. Lever retains traces of case colors, being mostly a mottled silver/brown patina. Buttplate & forend cap retain smoky case colors turning silver. Stock has a deep scratch on left side of comb with a series of small scratches & bruises on left side of wrist and other light nicks & scratches. Buttstock retains about 85-88% strong orig finish and the forearm about 25% showing wear over the carry point. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with some fine pitting in the grooves. 52498-1 JRL (7,000-9,000)