The accompanying factory letter confirms the round barrel in .45-90 caliber, plain trigger, half magazine and shotgun butt. The letter also states the rifle was received in the warehouse on August 6, 1898, and shipped on August 8. The half magazine and shotgun buttplate are special order features that are sought after by modern collectors. The rifle also has a desirable early casehardened receiver found only on Model 1886 rifles manufactured prior to 1902. The barrel has the two-line Winchester legend ahead of the rear sight and "45-90 WCF" at the breech. The rifle is fitted with a blade insert front sight and an elevation adjustable buckhorn sporting rear sight. The upper tang is marked "-MODEL 1886-." The lower tang has the two-line patent dates marking and the serial number. The forearm and straight grip stock are plain walnut. The buttstock is fitted with a steel shotgun buttplate. The Model 1886 is one of the finest Winchester models and was the first repeater based on designs by John M. Browning. It was developed as a replacement for the weaker toggle link action Model 1876 which could not handle as powerful of cartridges or feed the popular .45-70 Govt. cartridges, but their production was fairly limited at around 160,000 between 1886 and 1935.
Fine. The barrel retains 75% plus original blue finish fading to a plum. The breech bolt retains 95% original blue finish. The loading gate retains 30% original niter blue. 30% original blue finish remains on the buttplate. The receiver retains 40% plus vivid original case colors. The hammer and lever retain 40% original case colors. Slight traces of original case colors remain on the forend cap. The wood is very fine with some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. An attractive special order Winchester Model 1886 Rifle in desirable .45-90 WCF that will look great in any lever action collection.
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