Make: Winchester

Model: 1886

Serial Number: 50484

Year of Manufacture: 1891

Caliber: Re-chambered and re-bored for .45-70 Government.

Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 26", Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel, the top has been filed down a little bit. The rear sight is a v-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel, the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight, none present.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The right rear of the butttstock has "H. PATRICK / 1915" hand-carved with five notches that appear intentionally cut. The stocks have evenly scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There are small losses in the top of the forend along the left of the barrel. There is a tiny loss in the bottom-front corner of the wrist on the right. The LOP measures 12 7/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a moderate-dark patina with scattered surface erosion. In this writer's opinion, the stocks rate about Very Good as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue and Case Color

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is a little stubborn fouling. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9/10 as re-bored.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has generally strong finish throughout. The bottom of the magazine has mostly gone to a light patina with strong finish on the top. The receiver has muted or gone to a light patina around the edges with some strong color in the flats and tangs. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some minor surface erosion, mostly in the receiver. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, the new serial marking has been struck through the finish over the original serial marking. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good-Fine condition as re-chambered Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The 1886 is another of John Browning's industry-changing designs. It is our favorite Winchester here, certainly the strongest built at the time and function leads to beauty. The 1886 was available in a variety of cartridges over its nearly 40 years of production with a wide number of variations available to the collector today.

This example is a rifle with a 26" octagonal barrel. It has been re-chambered for the still-popular .45-70 Government cartridge, we do not know the original chamber. This rifle is in Very Good-Fine condition as re-chambered Antique, showing minor wear given its age, retaining a great bore and strong mechanics. Altogether, this is a neat example of a Winchester 1886, in nice condition for a 135 year old hunting rifle. It will make a neat addition to a Winchester collection and should still prove to be a fun shooter chambered for a commercially available cartridge. Please see our pictures and good luck!