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LOT 22
Documented Special Order Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle in Highly Desirable .50-100-450 Caliber with Factory Letter - Serial no. 118869, 50-100-450 cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. As the most powerful big bore Model 1886, the .50/100/450 Express has held a special place in the hearts of Winchester collectors and has remained
a highly sought after dangerous game rifle in any condition.
With only 331 manufactured, there are hardly enough surviving Winchester “Big Fifty” Model 1886s to meet demand. These
rifles had more than enough power to dispatch all large North American game as well as all but the most dangerous game in Africa, making them highly prized among big game hunters. The included factory letter with this example lists it in “50/100/450” caliber with a round barrel, Lyman front, leaf, and rear sights, plain trigger, and a shotgun butt when received at the warehouse on 12 April 1899 and shipped the same day to order number 25987. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address in front of the rear sight and the desirable caliber marking “50-100-450” at the breech. The model designation is marked on the upper tang and the serial number is on the lower tang. The left side of the lower tang is marked “88 S”, “12” is marked in the stock inlet, and “12 S” is marked inside the buttplate.
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