Make: Winchester

Model: 1886 Takedown

Year of Manufacture: 1919 / C&R

Caliber: .45-90 Winchester

Action Type: Lever Action, Tubular Magazine Fed Rifle

Serial Number: 156658

Barrel Length: 22" chopped. 2/3 length takedown magazine tube.

Sights: The front sight is a Marble No. 2 white beaded blade, dovetailed to a base, fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a flat-top u-notch elevator sight, dovetailed to the barrel. The upper tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight, none present. The front sight is not original.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a two piece smooth walnut with capped pistol grip, straight comb, Winchester checkered hard rubber buttplate, and capped forend. There is a sling stud eyelet in the belly of the buttstock and a sling eyelet in the bottom of the forend cap. The number in the tang recess matches the number on the left side of the lower tang. There is a small crack on the bottom right of the forend at the cap and another on the bottom at the receiver. There is a repaired crack in the right side of the wrist in the upper corner of the receiver. The LOP is 13 1/4" from trigger to buttplate. The stock has been refinished. Overall this stock rates in Good condition as refinished antique.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original, Case Hardened

Bore Condition: This rifle has been rebored to 45-90. The bore is bright. The rifling is sharp. There is no erosion. In this writer's opinion this bore rates 9/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 20% of its metal finish. Most of the barrel and parts of the receiver have been cleaned and polished bright. The case color on the hammer is strong with muting at the spur. The caliber marking was buffed out and stamped with the new caliber marking. The screw heads are tool marked with serviceable slots. The markings are softened but legible. The proofs have been buffed out. There is a new caliber marking to show that it was rechambered to 45-90. Overall this rifle is in Good condition as custom.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly and smoothly. The lever locks up solidly. The trigger is crisp. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: John M. Browning designed the Winchester Model 1886 to handle the long, powerful cartridges that exceeded the practical limits of Winchester’s earlier toggle-link actions. Its strong vertical-locking system established the Model 1886 as Winchester’s premier big-bore sporting rifle, while the takedown mechanism allowed the barrel and magazine assembly to be separated from the receiver for compact transport. The .45-90 W.C.F. was among the substantial cartridges associated with the platform, though this rifle’s present chambering results from a later rebore rather than its original configuration.

This 1919 takedown rifle has been modified with a shortened 22" barrel and rebored and remarked .45-90 chambering, replacement front sight, cleaned metal, and refinished stocks. About 20% of its metal finish remains, with portions of the barrel and receiver polished bright, softened markings, tool-marked screws, and repaired cracks in the wrist and forend. Its strongest attributes are the bright 9/10 rebored bore, smooth action, solid lever lockup, matching-numbered stock, and crisp trigger. This remains a handy and mechanically sound big-bore Model 1886 with substantial shooter appeal.