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Lot 1026:Documented Winchester Deluxe Model 1886 .50 Express Rifle

May 18th, 2024|Bedford, TX

Lot 1026:Documented Winchester Deluxe Model 1886 .50 Express Rifle

May 18th, 2024|Bedford, TX

Price Realized:

Estimated Price$45,000 - $65,000

Exceptional Documented Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1886 .50 Express Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter

This is a rare special order Winchester Deluxe Model 1886 Fancy Sporting Lever Action Rifle chambered for the desirable 50/110 WCF Express cartridge. This rifle is accompanied by 1998 and 2017 letters from the Cody Firearms Museum. The 2017 Cody letter describes this Model 1886 as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 50/110, Barrel Type; Octagon, Barrel Length: 28 inches, Trigger: Plain, Checkered stock, Pistol grip" and "Sights: Lyman front and rear and seats". The Cody letters states this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on July 6, 1894, and repair and returned on January 26, 1895, and May 24, 1895 (writer surmises it was a mechanical issue). The barrel and full-length magazine have a blue finish. The bolt and loading gate are bright blue. The forearm cap, receiver, trigger lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The forearm and pistol grip stock are deluxe, fancy grade, American walnut with "Style H" factory checkering and high polish piano finish. The bottom of the pistol grip has an ebony inlay. The special order, 28-inch, full octagon barrel has a "Winchester Express" front sight with white bead and a Lyman "Winchester Express" rear sight with single folding leaf. The rear sight leaf has a flat top and white sighting triangle. A Lyman folding combination rear sight with coarse knurled post is mounted on the receiver tang. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.-" ahead of the rear sight. The caliber: "50 EX" is stamped on the top barrel flat just ahead of the receiver. The 1884 and 1885 patent dates are roll-stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger, and the serial number is stamped in script numerals between the lower tang screws. Introduced around 1894 for the Model 1886 rifle, the 50-100 or "50 Express" cartridge was comparable to some British African cartridges. The 50 Express cartridge was not popular in the United States and was discontinued in 1910. Winchester Model 1886 rifles chambered for the 50 Express cartridge are extremely desirable. Provenance: The Collection of David L. DeLullo

ConditionExceptionally fine. The octagonal barrel and full-length magazine have 95% of the original blue finish. The barrel markings are sharp. The breech bolt retains 97% original bright blue finish. 90% of the niter blue on the loading gate remains. The case colors on the forearm cap are muted but show minimal wear. The receiver has nearly 80% of the vivid original case colors, minor finish wear on the front flares, and has silvered slightly on the bottom. The hammer, trigger, and sides of the lever have nearly all of the case colors. The case colors on the bottom of the lever have faded slightly to a dull silver-brown patina. The heel of the crescent buttplate retains mostly silvered out case colors. The case colors on the bottom of the buttplate have silvered and there are traces of pitting on the buttplate toe and edge of the heel. The highly figured, fancy grade, walnut stock and forearm are all in excellent condition. The fine checkering is sharp with minimal handling wear. At least 95% of the original high polish piano finish remains. Wear is limited to a few scattered and very insignificant handling marks. This is an exceptional example of a rare special order Winchester Deluxe Model 1886 .50 Express Rifle.

Details

ManufacturerWinchester

Model1886

TypeRifle

Serial number

ClassAntique

Caliber / Gauge50 express

Barrel28 inch octagon

Finishblue/casehardened

Stockdeluxe walnut checkered

Item LocationBedford, TX