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The Winchester style no. 9 engraving covers both sides of the receiver with scrollwork and borders. The vignette on the left side is a grizzly bear scene, and the vignette on the right side is an elk scene. The quality of the work is consistent with engravings performed by the Ulrich family.
Light scrollwork and borders extend to the forend cap, top and bottom of the receiver, and upper
tang. Factory matted Winchester barrels are rare. According to noted Winchester expert and author
George Madis, “Matted barrels were produced in very limited numbers. Early matting was applied by
hand in some cases.”The matting on this Model 1886 is the later style wavy lines and cover the entire top portion of the
barrel. To accommodate the matting the barrel markings are stamped on the upper left flat. These markings are the two-line
New Haven address and “45-70.” “N.S.” is stamped in small font on the right barrel flat at the breech. The .45-70 Government was
a popular cartridge, and John Moses Browning’s designed Model 1886 was the first Winchester repeater capable of chambering the .45-70. The lower tang carries the two-line patent dates marking and the serial number. The rifle is fitted
with a beaded blade front sight, a folding two leaf rear sight, and a folding tang peep sight. Sling eyelets are mounted on the underside of the forend cap and stock. The highly figured forearm and pistol grip stock feature Winchester style “E” checkering. In the Winchester “Highly
NOTICE THE CONSECUTIVE SERIAL NUMBERS (116728 & 116729) ON THIS LOT AND THE PREVIOUS LOT.
Finished Arms” catalog this style of checkering was an additional
$12.50. The buttstock also has a hard rubber Winchester grip cap
and is fitted with a solid recoil pad. The left side of the lower tang is
stamped “674 XX.” The assembly number “674” is repeated on the stock
inlet, and is consecutive to the assembly number of the previous lot.
As confirmed by the factory letter, the stock was made to specific
length and drop. Again we turn to Madis for insight on the rarity of this
feature: “Special stocks, varying from the standard in length or drop,
would be custom made and fitted by the factory for the few customers
who wanted them. The standard stock was made to fit and be correct in all ways for the majority of people, and very few customers found it necessary to order a special stock” (page 602).
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. The barrel retains 80% factory refinished blue with thinning to brown on the balance. 95% original blue finish remains on the bolt. 70% original nitre blue remains on the loading gate. The frame retains 40% plus original case colors with the strongest colors in the protected areas. The hammer and lever retains 30% original case colors. Patterns of original case colors remain on the forend cap. The engraving is crisp. The wood is very fine minor with dings and scratches and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. This is a solid representative example of a factory highly embellished factory engraved Winchester deluxe Model 1886 extra lightweight rifle made extra special by being consecutively serialized to the previous lot.
Estimate: 50,000 - 75,000
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