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LOT 3039
Fine Antique Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle in Highly Desirable .50
Express with Factory Letter - Serial no. 66403, 50 Express cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1892, this is a very solid
example of the venerable, John Moses Browning designed, Winchester Model
1886, chambered in the powerful and desirable .50-110 Express. These robust
lever actions were a strengthened upgrade to Winchester’s previous toggle-link
designs and were meant to be an answer to Marlin’s Model 1881, which was
also capable of chambering some of the most powerful cartridges of the time. The ‘86 found widespread popularity,
particularly in the American West among settlers and hunters in need of a powerful rifle with immense stopping power.
When chambered in a caliber like .50 Express, these rifles were certainly capable of stopping any danger in North America
in its tracks. These rifles, particularly in standard configuration like this example, often saw hard use in on the unforgiving
frontier and are rarely found to have survived in high condition like this one. The included factory letter lists the rifle in .50-110 caliber with an octagon barrel and plain
trigger when received at the warehouse on 23 April 1892, and shipped the same day in order number 23037. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address
and the caliber marking at the breech. The model marking is on the upper tang, while the two-line patent dates and serial number are on the lower tang. It is fitted with a period replaced
beaded blade front sight and three-leaf “express” rear sight with platinum inlaid center lines. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% of the original blue finish, 50% of the vibrant original case colors, and 60% of the original nitre blue on the loading gate with some mild edge wear, a few
scattered minor dings, vise marks on both sides of the barrel near the breech, and some light freckling on the receiver. The wood is also fine with a small edge chip on the upper right of the
wrist and scattered dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. A very solid example of a Winchester Model 1886 in .50 Express that shows some limited honest use!
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
LOT 3038
Special Order Winchester Model 1876 “Centennial” Lever Action Rifle in .50-95
Winchester Express with Factory Letter - Serial no. 2245, 50-95 Winchester Express
cal., 28 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock.
Manufactured in 1878, this is an attractive example of
Winchester’s “Centennial” rifle, the mighty Model 1876,
chambered in the most desirable of all its calibers,
the venerable .50-95 Winchester Express. These rifles
were introduced as a scaled up version of their Model 1873, which
was already establishing its reputation as “the gun that won the west”, with the intent being to have
a both a long gun that could use the same ammunition as the popular revolvers of the frontier, as well as
a powerful, large caliber long gun that would be capable of dispatching any danger that might confront it in the American West.
This particular rifle appears to have had an interesting story before even leaving the Winchester warehouse. The included factory letter lists it as a rifle with an octagon
barrel and set trigger, with the additional notation “To Express, 28 inches”, as well as being received at the warehouse on 26 April 1878, and shipped from the warehouse on
29 May 1880 in order number 20251. Given that the rifle entered the warehouse in April of 1878, one can assume that it was initially chambered in .45-75 W.C.F. (or .45-90 W.C.F.
which was offered for a few months in 1878), as that was the only caliber offered for the Model 1876 until the following year. Given the “To Express, 28 inches” notation in the factory ledgers, the
writer believes that this rifle sat in the warehouse in either .45-75 or .45-90 until a rifle was special ordered with a 28 inch barrel (26 inches was standard for .50 Express), set trigger, and in .50-95 Express, at
which time this rifle was taken from existing stock, updated to .50 caliber and appropriately marked for the customer. It has the Second Model receiver with the dust cover guide retained with two screws and
the dust cover having the flush-checkered oval “thumbprint” grip area, as well as the hand engraved Winchester Express markings. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address and King’s patent marking,
as well as the hand engraved caliber marking at the breech, and “50-95” on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The model marking is on the upper tang and the serial number is on the lower tang. The left side of the lower tang is
marked “997” as well as “936”. The assembly number “997” is repeated in the stock inlet and the inside the buttplate. It is fitted with a German silver No. 21 “Sporting” blade front sight, an elevation adjustable No. 22 “Sporting” notch
rear sight, and a set trigger. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock, both showing some nice figure, and a trapdoor crescent buttplate containing a five-piece cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Fine as professionally restored, retains 90% of the blue finish with some light edge wear and light thinning in handling areas, 80% plus of the vibrant case colors, and 75% plus of the nitre blue on the loading gate,
with the balance overall mostly a grey patina. The reoiled wood has some scattered minor dings and dents, mostly on the left side of the forearm and stock. Mechanically excellent. This is both an
interesting and solid representative example of a high condition Winchester
Model 1876 rifle chambered in the powerful .50-95 Express!
Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000
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