Make: Winchester

Model: 1886

Year of Manufacture: 1906

Caliber: .33 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Half-Length Tubular Magazine

Serial Number: 141872A

Barrel Length: 24", Round

Sights: The front sight is a Marble No. 2 brass beaded blade dovetailed to a base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "U"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel; the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled and tapped with a folding tang-sight installed, adjustable for elevation; the aperture is bent backward slightly.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have some light nicks, scuffs, scratches and a few dings. There are no chips or cracks. The wood to metal finish is slightly imperfect. The LOP measures 13 1/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a light patina with scattered spots of solid erosion. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition as refinished.

Type of Finish: Blued

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 5 out of 10.

Overall Condition: The rifle retains approximately 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is some light wear at the muzzle with more notable handling wear on the barrel behind the rear sight. The receiver has wear along the top with handling wear on the bottom. The case color on the hammer and lever have mostly muted. There is some other scattered light finish wear. There is scattered minor surface oxidation as well as some nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition.

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

Box / 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 and, while there were standard configurations, there were also special-order features which led to a wide number of variations available to the collector today. This rifle is chambered for the .33 WCF cartridge, a standard chambering for the 1886 from 1903 until the model was discontinued. It has standard rifle stocks with a 24" barrel and half-length magazine tube. The .33 WCF is a good medium-range hunting cartridge, with performance roughly equivalent to or slightly better than .35 Remington. At nearly 120 years old, it appears to have seen use in the field, showing some scattered surface oxidation and erosion in the bore. It would display well as-is, but is also a good candidate for restoration to get it back out in the field. This is a nice old Winchester, perfect for any collection. Please see our pictures and good luck!