Rare Winchester Special Order Model 1886 Musket in .45-90
Guns International #: 100966586 Seller's Inventory #: 33260
Category: Winchester Rifles - Model 1886 - Winchester Rifles - Antique Lever

Seller's Information
When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com
Verified Seller
Seller: Joe Salter com
Company: Down East Antiques - Joe Salter
Member Since: 9/10/10
First Name: Garrick-March-Jim-Joe
Last Name: Salter
State: New Hampshire
Zip: 03031
Country: United States
Phone: (603) 732-4000
Fax: (603) 732-4200
Platinum Seller
Number of Active Listings: 1162
Total Number of Listings: 19871
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
We have a 30 day Inspection Period and NOT a 3 day Inspection.
Payment Types Accepted: We take all major credit cards with NO CREDIT CARD FEES! Also Check or Money order.

About Us: Joe Salter has been in the Antique and Collector Weapons business for 60 years as both a collector and dealer. Our company is based in Southern New Hampshire and we have had an internet based store front for the past 20 years. We are federally licensed and deal in all types of firearms and related material.


Description:
Serial #114392, .45-90, 30" barrel with a fine, bright bore that has mild freckling within the grooves. This is an exceedingly rare Winchester musket that is described in Madis' book as "The rarest of any Winchester Lever Muskets" with approx. 350 produced and most exported. The Rifle retains about 40-45% of the original blue on the barrel with silvering and scattered patches of light surface freckling, as well as some minuscule peen marks at the barrel band, and a few scattered spots of pinprick pitting. Some of the original bright fire blue still remains on the rear sight spring. The frame has an overall mottled patina with bright gray under even freckling, and hints of the original muted color case-hardening still visible. Additional small spots of dark plum colored freckling are present along the lower edge of the left side. The lever has a matching patina, although there is some fairly bright colors still left on the lower tang, and the loading gate retains about 60-70% of the original blue on the rear plate. The walnut stock with crescent butt, and the musket forend are both original and have never been sanded. The oil finish has a rich brown color, and there are scattered handling and usage marks and blemishes throughout, heaviest at the barrel band. Correct sling swivels are mounted, and the metal buttplate has a speckled, pewter gray patina. Madis gives a production figure of around 350 Model 1886 muskets, making this the rarest of the lever action musket variations, and nearly all of those were chambered in .45-70 (this last information was extracted from Winchester records by Porter and Hawk; research associates at the Cody Fireams Museum). Contact with the Cody Museum further reveals that while the serial number application was recorded for this musket, the record is in fact blank. So it is possible is was never received by the shipping department, so it may either have been picked up in person at the New Haven plant, or presented directly to the original recipient. In any even, this is a special Winchester, in an extremely rare configuration, and in very good-fine original condition. It would be a superb addition to any advanced collection of Winchester lever action rifles. Antique

SOLD

Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Winchester
Model: 1886
Caliber Info: .45-90
Gauge Info: .45-90