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LOT 3050
Documented Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Saddle
Ring Carbine in Highly Desirable .50 Express with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 144570, 50 Express cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue
finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1907, this is a solid example
of a Winchester Model 1886 saddle ring carbine chambered in the
highly desirable .50 Express caliber. The included factory letter
confirms the carbine in .50 Express when it was received at the
warehouse on 24 February 1909 and shipped on 11 November
1909. According to research conducted by John T. Madl and John
Hawk, only 1,208 Model 1886 carbines are listed in the existing
records as chambered in .50 Express, making surviving examples
quite scarce in any condition. These “Big 50” ‘86s were popular
in the American West well into the 20th century for their nearly
unrivaled stopping power, giving anyone that carried one the
ability to stop any threat they might face on the frontier in its
tracks. This example has Winchester factory oval proofs on top
of the barrel and receiver at the breech. The top of the barrel is
marked with the standard two-line address, with the small single
line patent date just below it, and the “50 EX.” caliber marking at
the breech. The upper tang is marked with the three-line model
and trademark information. The lower tang has the two-line
patent date marking and the serial number. It is fitted with a
pinned German silver blade front sight, a three-leaf “Winchester
Express” rear sight, a saddle ring on the left of the receiver, and a
non-factory, professionally made and installed sling loop on the
lower barrel band and a sling stud on the bottom of the stock. It
is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a
carbine buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 40% of the original blue finish on the barrel and 60% period refinished blue on the
magazine tube, 20% on the receiver, faint traces of original case colors on the lever and hammer, and the balance
having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina with some scattered patches of light surface pitting and small spot
of oxidation on the upper tang. The wood is also fine with some scattered light dings and scratches. Mechanically
excellent. A solid representative example of a Model 1886 carbine in the ever-desirable .50 Express!
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000
According to research conducted by
John T. Madl and John Hawk, only
1,208 Winchester Model 1886 carbines
are recorded in .50 Express.
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