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LOT 10
Excellent Antique Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle in Rare .40-82 W.C.F. with Very Attractive Casehardened Frame and Factory Letter - Serial no. 79613, 40-82 WCF cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. The Winchester Model 1886 was the first lever action rifle designed by legendary American gunsmith John Moses Browning and was the first Winchester repeater available that could use high power “express” cartridges. This rifle is chambered in the rarer .40-82 W.C.F. This caliber was introduced in 1885 for the Winchester Model 1885 single shot rifle also designed by Browning and was available for the Model 1886 into the early 20th century but was then discontinued. The caliber was favored by elk and heavy game hunters, but rifles in this caliber are rarely encountered due to many being altered over the last century to more available calibers. This rifle also has the desirable color casehardened frame and furniture. The included factory letter lists this rifle in .40-82 with an octagon barrel and plain trigger. It was received in the warehouse on June 5, 1893, and shipped on June 9, 1894, with one other gun in order 18628. The barrel has a beaded Lyman front sight, flat folding Lyman two-leaf rear sight, the two-line barrel address, and “40-82 W.C.F.” marked on top at the breech. The barrel and frame properly do not have the “WP” proofs. The upper tang is fitted with a folding Lyman peep sight with the 1879 patent marking. The lower tang has the patent marking behind the trigger and the serial number at the tail. The smooth straight wrist stock and forearm have a casehardened forend cap and a casehardened crescent buttplate.
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