Page 36 - 4094-BOOK2

LOT 1025
Exceptional Antique
Special Order Winchester
Deluxe Model 1886 Lever
Action Rifle in Desirable
.45-90 W.C.F. with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 98373, 45-90
WCF cal., 26 inch round bbl.,
blue/casehardened finish, walnut
stock. Manufactured in 1895, this is an
exceptionally fine example of Winchester’s large
caliber Model 1886, which was designed by the legendary John Moses
Browning. Browning’s design refined by Winchester’s team was capable of firing more powerful cartridges than any Winchester
repeater before, making it an excellent big game rifle. The included factory letter lists the rifle in .45-90 caliber with a round barrel and a checkered pistol
grip stock that is “1 inch shorter than regular” when received at the warehouse on 14 February 1895 and shipped the same day in order number 6654. John T.
Madl’s research of the surviving records of Model 1886 carbines indicates that only 941 were chambered in .45-90 W.C.F. According to noted author and Winchester
historian George Madis in “The Winchester Book”, approximately one of every 320 Model 1886s has special wood, one of every 400 had a pistol grip stock, and one out
of every 570 had checkered or carved wood. No data is available on the rarity of special order stock dimensions, but it is safe to assume it is significantly more rare than
all of these other features. The earlier 1886s, especially high condition special order and deluxe rifles with stunning original case colors like this one, are highly sought after
and valuable firearms. The casehardened receiver finish, as seen on this example, was standard on the Model 1886 until around 1901. The top of the barrel is marked with the
standard two-line Winchester address and the desirable “45-90 W.C.F.” caliber marking at the breech. The upper tang is marked with the model designation, while the lower tang
is marked with the two-line patent dates and the serial number. The left side of the lower tang is marked “513 XX”, with “513” repeated in the stock inlet and inside the buttplate. It
is fitted with a set of “sporting” sights including a No. 21 German silver blade front sight, a No. 24 buckhorn rear sight, and a combination peep sight on the upper tang. It is mounted with
a very nicely figured, H-pattern checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with an ebony insert in the pistol grip and a crescent buttplate. The stock is visibly shorter than standard, having been ordered as
such, with the length of pull measuring approximately 12 inches.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 85% plus of the original blue finish with some light
thinning and a dent on the magazine tube, 80% plus of the vibrant original case colors, and
95% of the original nitre blue on the loading gate with the balance mostly a grey patina,
some scattered patches of light surface spotting, and a few minor dings. The wood is very
fine with some scattered minor dings and scratches, retaining most of the original varnish.
Mechanically excellent. An attractive Winchester deluxe Model 1886 rifle in a rare special
order configuration!
Estimate: 25,000 - 40,000
34