GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
WONDERFUL WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 RIFLE WITH HIGHLY FIGURED STRAIGHT GRIP DELUXE WALNUT STOCK.WINCHESTER18867132245-90Cal. 45-90. 26" full oct. bbl with full mag, case colored forearm cap, receiver. Also case colored hammer, lever and crescent buttplate. Upper tang sports correct period tang sight. Stock is fancy American feather crotch walnut with "H" style straight grip checkering pattern that folds around bottom to left side of stock. Forearm also retains feather crotch type walnut wood with checkering pattern similar to that of stock. Assembly numbers match on lower tang. Buttplate marked same assembly number "22", although grade of wood is either 2x or 3x there are no Xs on bottom. Accompanied by Cody Firearms Records Office research sheet which indicates a plain octagon rifle shipped Nov 12, 1892 however a May 10, 1900 Return and Repair entry, may explain the Deluxe features observed today. PROVENANCE: The spectacular collections of Ray Bentley featuring the finest and rarest deluxe antique Winchesters in the world. CONDITION: Very fine. Full oct. bbl retains 96% blue with even the edges showing ample amounts of blue. Deep scratch across top flat about 1-1/2" from front sight. Some spots near muzzle that have turned to patina color but other than that bbl is pristine. Mag tube retains 96-97% soft charcoal blue. Forearm cap case colored and retains 50% of color. Left side receiver has 95-96% case color with numerous little dings and nicks. Right side is better with fewer nicks and even stronger case colors that rate 97-98% with very few scratches. Loading gate retains 98% of its nitre blue. Hammer and lever are case colored with hammer in dark case colors with 95% evident. Lever 90% case colors on sides and in low areas of bottom of level balance turning a soft gray in color. All screw heads remain unturned with ample amount of color remaining. Stock with very light scratches on left side with no chips, splits or gouges evident. Right side with long compression line running from buttplate up to about 4" forward of the buttstock, but is very superficial. Some other areas of right side near toe of the butt indicate impression marks and loss of finish. Wood to metal fit excellent with no cracks or chips of wood missing. Buttplate still has 50% case color with balance turning silver. Bore is bright and shiny. Mechanically excellent. A very fine and showy highly desirable big caliber 1886 with figured deluxe straight grip stock. 53091-163 MS (30,000-40,000)