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Winchester Model 1886 Rifle with Tang Sight and History
Guns International #: 101441770 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Winchester Rifles - Antique Lever - Winchester Rifles - Model 1886
Seller's Information
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Seller: Brent Wilburn
Company: Antique Arms, Inc.
Member Since: 11/19/15
First Name: Brent
Last Name: Wilburn
State: Georgia
Zip: 30052
Country: United States
Phone: (678) 471-1432
Phone2: (678) 471-1432
Premium Seller
Number of Active Listings: 36
Total Number of Listings: 580
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Money Order, Certified Check
Description:
ON HOLD. This is a nice untouched looking Model 1886 Winchester Sporting Rifle. This rifle came from the estate of Frederic Walcott (1869-1949) who was an avid sportsman, hunter, conservationist, as well as a United States Senator. This rifle came just recently from Walcott's family and has never been in a modern-day collection making it a pure, raw, untouched example of an 1886, just as it was since the late 19th century. Most of the screws look like they're have still remained unturned since it left the Winchester factory in 1891. Regarding the owner, Walcott would have been in his early 20's when this rifle was brand new. He may or may not have been the first owner, but he certainly owned it for many years followed by his family for the last 71 years. Walcott came along at a critical time in the United State's in terms of land and wildlife. At this time, a lot of the country had been de-forested and wildlife had been largely decimated from many years of year-round hunting. While Walcott was an avid hunter, he was also a concerned conservationist. He was originally from New York and moved to Norfolk, Connecticut in 1910 with his family. With the help of a Yale classmate, he purchased 2000 acres of clear-cut land which they re-forested. Today this forest has grown to 6000 acres and is known as the Great Mountain Forest in CT. Walcott was active in a number of conservation organizations including the Boone and Crockett Club. He was President of the CT Board of Fisheries and Game, and the CT Water Commission. He was later elected US Senator for the State of Connecticut and served from 1929-1935. During this time, he worked on a number of bills such as the Pittman-Robertson Act that provided Federal Aid for Wildlife Restoration and is still in effect today. As a resident of Georgia for many years, I can attest to the effectiveness of this bill as by the early 20th Century, the deer population had been hunted to near extinction. This act helped re-stock our state's wildlife and today, Georgia now has a thriving deer population of 1.27 Million. This also allowed 44 States to re-populate their wild turkey populations...so if you're a deer or a turkey hunter, you have this man to thank! "His guns were personal and specific to his hunting needs more than beautifully crafted arms for show, they were working arms of quality make."
This 1886 is exactly that, a plain standard sporting rifle with a 26" Octagon Barrel, Full Magazine, and Crescent Buttplate. The only additions to it beyond its standard features are a period-correct Lyman Tang Sight with the single patent date and beaded Lyman front Sight for better accuracy. The serial number is in the 55,000 range and was made in 1891. It has the large style buttplate than the later 1886's...similar to the Model 1876. The Caliber is 40-65 WCF. I don't know a lot about this cartridge other than my friend Al Perry, who was a lifelong Winchester Collector, swore by this caliber. Al had an 800 yard shooting range behind his house in Oregon with metal gongs set up as targets at various distances. If you ever had a question about something obscure regarding a Winchester, Al was the guy who had an answer. He had been collecting since 1950 and had seen it all so when he said something, he wasn't a big talker, you took note. During a phone conversation several years ago, I remember him lauding what his 1886 in 40-65 could do out on his range. He felt it was a highly under-rated Caliber as everyone always seems to gravitate towards the 45-70's, 45-90's and 50-110's. It certainly doesn't have the knock-down power of the larger rounds but terms of range and accuracy, I'll bet this 40-65 could run circles around a 50-110 Express.
Overall Condition Grades to NRA Antique Fine Plus with 60% soft to medium original case colors remaining on the frame. The colors are fairly strong towards the rear half of the action but they extend out fully across the entire frame...getting more smoky and whispy as they blend in with a completely untouched light patina. There is a dark stain on the left side of the receiver as though something got on it many many years ago...its not pitted though, it's smooth and you can see the case colors still running through it near the top. The hammer has at least 80% bright original colors and the lever has a bit of color remaining at the top. Loading port shows 80-90% toning original blue while the bolt retains 95% bright blue. The barrel and mag tube have 85% soft original blue that has faded over the years with crisp markings. It has never been cleaned. The stock and forend still have about 50-60% original varnish that has never been cleaned or freshened. You can still see all the little nicks and marks from when it was being used as a hunting rifle over a century ago. There was a little notch cut at the extreme tip of the comb so that the Lyman tang sight could fold flat. This was a pretty common practice amongst hunters as I've seen a number on 86's with this little notch in the comb with these tang sights. There is also a set of initials, "FK" scratched superficially in the left side of the stock just behind the receiver...which was also not an uncommon practice amongst hunters. This would suggest that while Senator Walcott owned this 1886 for much of its working life, he may have not been the original owner since new. However, since its been in his family since his passing in 1949, it could have been used by a family member or friend with those initials. The reason I mention this is that we also have Walcott's other 1886 which is a 45-90 that is just a few hundred numbers from this rifle suggesting these were together since relatively new. Walcott's 45-90 is very similar to this rifle but a little nicer. It has a minor chip in the stock in front of the buttplate we have to get repaired, but whoever buys this 40-65 will be given first right of refusal to purchase it when it comes up for sale as I'd like to see them kept as a pair. The bore on this 40-65 had not been cleaned in many years and it has some rust. I ran a brush through the bore followed by a patch and noticed that the rust was significantly decreased to what I'd describe as a Good Plus to VG semi-bright bore with good rifling, no rings, no bulges, and some scattered light corrosion. I think with some more scrubbing, this bore still has room for improvement to maybe Very Good Plus. This rifle is right out of the family so it appears to have been in a safe dry place for many decades....but still some dirt, crud, and a little closet rust in places. It's hard to find good untouched 1886's like this one, let alone one with history dating back to one of its early owners.
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Winchester
Model: 1886
Caliber Info: 40-65 WCF
Metal Condition: Fine Plus
Wood Condition: Fine Plus