Make: Winchester
Model: 1886
Serial Number: 104900
Year of Manufacture: 1895
Caliber: .45-90 Winchester Center Fire
Action Type: Lever Action Tubular Magazine Fed Rifle
Barrel Length: 26", Octagonal
Sights: The front sight is a german silver blade in a slotted base, dovetailed and screw-set to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn "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 steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are some more notable dings, most notable a cluster on the left-front of the forend, a ding on the left of the wrist and a bruise on the right above the belly. There is a crack in the right-front of the wrist and a small loss at the toe. The LOP measures 13 1/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly gone to a nickel-like appearance typical of aged Winchester casehardening with scattered light surface oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue and Casehardened
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 6/10.
Overall Condition: The rifle retains approximately 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel and magazine tube have generally good finish with scattered light wear. The receiver has some areas muted with a lot of good color in the flats. There is some scattered minor surface oxidation. The barrel has a few spots of a stubborn red residue, possibly paint. There are a few spots of minor erosion. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with more notable tool marks on the left of the barrel at the rear sight dovetail. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine condition as Antique.
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, Paperwork and Accessories: Included is a Cody Firearms Records Office search indicating this serial number was produced as a rifle, 45/90, octagon barrel, plain trigger, received in warehouse July 30, 1895 and shipped September 11, 1896 on order 18400.
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 example is a rifle with a 26? octagonal barrel chambered for the .45-90 Winchester Center Fire cartridge. This rifle is in Fine condition as Antique, showing little wear given its age of more than 130 years. It retains a good majority of its original finish, a decent bore and strong mechanics. Altogether, this is a very nice example of a Winchester 1886, still sporting a surprising amount of its original casehardened color. It will make a neat addition to a Winchester collection and may still prove to be a good shooter or hunting rifle. Please see our pictures and good luck!
