Manufactured in 1888, this Winchester Model 1886 Deluxe sporting rifle was manufactured in 1888. The rifle has a highly figured fancy grain walnut forearm and pistol grip stock with Winchester "Style H" checkering. The stock has a crescent steel buttplate and ebony inlay on the pistol grip. The rifle has a half octagon/half round barrel with full length magazine. The barrel, magazine, bolt and loading gate have a blue finish. The forearm cap, frame, hammer, loading lever and buttplate are color casehardened. The barrel has a special order Beach folding combination front sight and a very rare Winchester musket-style "Military Wind Gauge" rear sight with 1,000 yard leaf. A combination peep sight is mounted on the upper tang. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped "-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.-" in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The caliber designation, "40-82 W.C.F.", is stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver. The lower tang has the 1884 and 1885 patent dates stamped in two lines behind the trigger and the serial number "20516" stamped in script numerals behind the lower tang screw. The accompanying factory letter lists serial number 20516 as a carbine (records error), 40/82 caliber, 1/2 octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, Beach and midwind gauge sights and that it was shipped on August 4, 1888, on order number 10236. A factory fitted military rear sight on a Model 1886 deluxe sporting Rifle is a very unusual if not unique feature; this rifle may be a one-of-a-kind piece. Provenance: The Gateway Collection