GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 SMOOTH BORE LEVER ACTION RIFLE WITH BROWNING BROTHERS MARK ON BARREL.WINCHESTER18861844945-90Cal. 45-90. Standard grade rifle with 26" oct bbl, smooth bore, full magazine, altered front sight and a replacement King rear sight. The replacement rear sight is lower than the original which necessitated lowering the front sight and also caused the owner to cut a small groove in the top of the receiver ring to permit a sight line. The bore measures .458" at the muzzle indicating that it was probably bored out after leaving the factory. Top flat of bbl is marked with the 2-line Winchester address and is also marked "BROWNING BROS, OGDEN U.T." between the rear sight & bbl address. John Browning was the world's most prolific firearms inventor who designed many of the Winchester rifles including this one. He and his brother maintained a manufacturing facility and sporting goods store in Ogden, UT and were distributors for Winchester Arms. Most of the arms sold by Browning Brothers saw extreme hard use on the American frontier and are rarely found today in any condition. Those few rifles that come to market usually have little or no finish. CONDITION: Fair. Traces of orig finish remain in the most sheltered areas being an overall mottled silver/brown patina with wrench marks on the bbl over the chamber area. Receiver, lever & hammer retain traces of silvered case colors, being mostly an overall dark brown patina with a series of what are probably vise marks on the front raised area of the receiver. Wood is sound with numerous nicks, dings & scratches with gouges on the buttstock and another on the forearm and overall shows very hard wear with a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore. 52699-3 JRL (2,000-3,000)