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LOT 19
Rare, Highly Desirable, Special Order Smoothbore Marked Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Takedown Rifle in .50 Express with Letter of Authenticity - Serial no. 157919, 50 express cal., 26 inch round smoothbore bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1920 with Winchester factory oval proofs on top of the barrel and receiver at the breech. The two-line address and patent marking in on the upper left of the barrel
in front of the rear sight and the upper left of the barrel at the breech is marked “SMOOTH BORE 50-EX.” Winchester factory records indicate that there were 15 of these rare smoothbore Model 1886s manufactured, with likely a handful more, such as this example, that fall into the serial number range that is not present in the factory records. The upper tang is marked with the three- line model and trademark information while the serial number
is marked on the lower tang. The included Leroy Merz letter of authenticity states that he has encountered five or six of the .50 Ex. smoothbore Model 1886s, and that he believes this example
to be original and correct, including the bore diameter. The bore diameter on this example is approximately .497, indicating that this is an original smoothbore barrel as the diameter would be larger
if rifling had been removed. It is fitted with a Lyman beaded blade front sight and a three-leaf express rear sight, and the frame is in takedown configuration. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate. These smoothbore rifles are one of the rarest variations of Model 1886 available to the collecting community and are highly desirable.
CONDITION: Extremely fine, retains 75% plus of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth brown patina, most noticeably on the receiver, some scattered light spotting on the left rear of the barrel, and some light cleaning visible on the rear sight base. The wood is very fine with some scattered minor handling marks and retaining most of the varnish. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 20,000 - 35,000