Make: Winchester

Model: 1886

Serial Number: 150444

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1911

Caliber: .50-110 Express

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Tubular Magazine

Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. PAT. OCT. 14.1884. JAN. 20.1885” and at the receiver with “50-EX.". The lower tang is marked “150444 A”. The top tang is marked "MODEL 1886 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG IN U.S. PAT. OFF.". There are Winchester proofs on the chamber ring and the top-rear of the barrel.

Barrel Length: 26", Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel, the bead is missing. The rear sight is a Winchester three-leaf Express sight with "V"-notches marked "50", "1" and "2", dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. 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. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches with a few more notable dings and scratches in the buttstock. There is discoloration around the rear edge of the butt where it meets the plate. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has worn to white with scattered oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 35% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The receiver has worn to white. There is scattered wear along the barrel. The magazine nosecap is worn to white. Most worn areas are starting to go to a light patina. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches, mostly on the barrel. There are some spots of light oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock notch. 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: Winchester’s first attempt at a lever action rifle capable of handling a rifle cartridge was the Model 1876, which was a heavier framed version of the Model 1873. However, the toggle-link action used in the gun was still limited to short cartridges like the .40-60 and .45-60 Win. The Model 1886 was made to handle longer cartridges like the .45-70 Govt., and the .45-70 Win. and .50-110 Win. cartridges. The Model 1886 utilized a locked-bolt action that was much stronger than the M1876, and some think it is faster and smoother as well. The design was touted as a lever action express model, capable of handling any of the North American game animals.

The 1886 was available in a variety of cartridges over its nearly 40 years of production with this example having a barrel chambered for .50-110 Express, a cartridge introduced to the line in 1887. The .50-110 Express is one of the most powerful cartridges ever to be chambered in a lever action rifle and would have been suitable for just about any game a hunter could expect to encounter in 1911. This example looks like it's seen its share of trips in the field and is a nice configuration with a half-length magazine and three-leaf express sight. This 1886 Express will be a nice addition to a Winchester or lever gun collection. Please see our photos and good luck!