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LOT 1003
Exceptional Documented Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model
1886 Lever Action Rifle in Desirable .45-90 W.C.F. with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 4845, 45-90 WCF cal., 26 inch part octagon bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut stock. The John Moses Browning designed Winchester
Model 1886 is one of the most popular Winchester lever actions. 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, but production was still very limited compared to Winchester’s smaller rifles like the Model 1892 and 1894. Only 160,000 were manufactured between 1886 and the end of production in 1935 compared to 1,000,000 Model 1894s already manufactured by 1927, and 1,004,675 Model 1892 manufactured before
production was halted in 1941. The earlier 1886s, especially high condition rifles with stunning original case colors like this one, are highly sought after and valuable firearms. This beautiful Winchester Model 1886 was manufactured in 1887, the second year of production. The top barrel flat has the standard two-line address and the desirable “45-90 W.C.F.” caliber marking at the breech.
The upper tang is marked with the model designation, and the lower tang has the two-line patent dates and early, four-digit serial number. The left side of the lower tang is marked “191 XXX S”, with “191” repeated in the stock inlet and on the inside of the buttplate. The butt of the stock under the buttplate is stamped “FT”. It is fitted with German silver “knife” blade front, elevation adjustable notch rear,
and tang mounted peep sights. It is mounted with a finely figured, H-pattern checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with an ebony insert, German silver initial escutcheon on the bottom, and a smooth steel shotgun buttplate. The initial escutcheon is crudely period marked “Hy. Hatchcock Jr./87/St. Louis Mo.” The included factory letter lists the rifle in .45-90 caliber with a half octagon barrel, plain trigger, knife blade sight, as well as
a checkered pistol grip stock with oil finish, a shotgun butt, and 14 inch pull and 3 inch drop. It is listed as received at the warehouse on 20 May 1887 and shipped the next day.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% of the original blue finish and 60% plus of the vibrant original case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina. The wood is also very fine with some light handling marks scattered throughout and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A solid representative example of a special order Winchester deluxe Model 1886 rifle in one of the most desirable calibers offered!
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
LOT 1004
Highly Desirable Documented Winchester
Deluxe Model 1876 Lever Action Rifle with Factory
and George Madis Letters - Serial no. 45516, 45-60 WCF
cal., 28 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The Model
1876 was the first Winchester lever action rifle offered in calibers truly suitable for hunting large and
dangerous game. The larger caliber Model 1876 was popular among those in the west who believed .44-40 wasn’t
quite enough stopping power for whatever they might encounter. Deluxe variations of the Model 1876 are always in demand, especially in high condition like this example. With
only 63,871 rifles and carbines manufactured between 1876 and 1897 surviving examples of the Model 1876 rifle are scarce. Generally being viewed as a working gun, these rifles in deluxe configuration or with special order features are especially rare. The included factory letter lists the rifle in .45-60 caliber with an octagon barrel, plain trigger, casehardened, and a checkered
pistol grip stock when received at the warehouse on 14 August 1885 and shipped the following day with one other gun in order number 22435. This rifle was manufactured as a Third Model with integral dust cover rail and a dust cover with grip serrations at the rear. The top barrel flat is marked with the two-line address/King’s patent marking and the caliber marking at the breech.
The caliber is again marked on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The upper tang is marked with the model designation and the serial number is on the lower tang. The left side of the lower tang is marked “2167 XXX” and “2167” is repeated in the stock inlet and inside the buttplate. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight, an “1876” marked folding ladder rear sight, and a Vernier peep sight is mounted
on the upper tang. It is mounted with a very finely figured, H-pattern checkered forearm and pistols grip stock with an ebony insert and a trapdoor crescent buttplate containing an included five-piece cleaning rod. CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% of the original blue finish and 40% of the vibrant original case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and a few small scattered patches of light surface pitting, mostly on the left of the receiver. The wood is very good with numerous minor dings and scratches scattered throughout, and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A fine example of a desirable Winchester deluxe Model 1876 rifle!
4 Estimate: 9,000 - 14,000