Make: Winchester

Model: 1886

Year of Manufacture: 1910

Caliber: .33 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

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

Serial Number: 149977

Barrel Length: 24", Round

Sights: The front sight is a Lyman white beaded blade dovetailed to a base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "V"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of 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 checkered black hard rubber Winchester buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs, scratches. The LOP measures 13 1/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has cracking and a loss at the heel with a smaller loss at the toe, the checkering is generally well defined. Overall, the stocks are in Good-Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and infrequent minor pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: The rifle retains approximately 15% of its metal finish. Strongest finish is on the magazine tube, bolt, and the barrel around the rear sight. There is infrequent other remaining finish. The barrel has scattered wear and the receiver is mostly worn to white. There is scattered minor surface oxidation, nicks and scratches. There are tool marks at some screw heads. 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. 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 a 24" barrel, shotgun-style buttplate, 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 finish wear 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!