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

Very fine. The rifle retains 75% plus of the original blue finish on the barrel and magazine tube. The barrel, bolt and loading gate have 95% of the original blue finish. The blue finish on the magazine is thin and shows some light handling wear. The case colors on the forearm cap, receiver, lever and buttplate retain 40% with the balance having faded to a silver-gray with the pattern of the case colors present overall. Half of the case colors are present on the hammer and lower tang. The highly figured stock and forearm are both also very fine. Nearly all of the high polish varnish finish remains. The checkering on the forearm and pistol grip has some minor handling wear and the stock and forearm have a few minor handling and storage marks. The markings on the barrel and receiver are crisp. Mechanically excellent. This is an exceptional example of a unique special order Model 1886 Deluxe lever action rifle.