Winchester Model 1886 Sporting Rifle manufactured in 1896. The rifle has a casehardened receiver, forearm cap, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate. The octagon barrel, full length magazine, bolt and loading gate have a blue finish. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut. The barrel has a standard sporting style front sight with nickel silver blade and a folding adjustable leaf sight graduated to 1,000 yards. A folding combination rear sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The top of the barrel is roll stamped with the two line legend "-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. US.A-" ahead of the rear sight. The caliber designation, "45-70" is stamped on the top of the barrel at the breech. The 1884/1885 patent dates are stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger and the serial number "107729" is stamped in script numerals ahead of the rear tang screw. Included with the rifle are a .45-90 single cavity bullet mold and loading tool. The rifle is accompanied by a letter signed by Hank Williams Jr. on "Deadly Nostalgia" letterhead that describes the rifle and states that it was in his personal collection. The accompanying factory letter verifies the rifle configuration, 45/70 caliber, octagon barrel, plain trigger, that it was received in the warehouse on April 13, 1896 and shipped to order number 22296 on October 26, 1896.

Fine. The blue finish on the barrel and magazine is 50% intact with the balance having faded to a blue-brown patina. The bolt and loading gate have most of the original blue finish. The receiver also retains 50% of the casehardened finish with some silvering out on contact points. The forearm cap has 10% of the casehardened finish intact. The sides of the hammer and lever retain strong case colors. The crescent buttplate retains 75% of the faded case colors. Most of the finish has worn off the combination sight on the upper tang and the folding insert in the eye piece is missing. The stock and forearm are good-very good with minimal handling marks. None of the original oil finish is present on either the stock of forearm. There are some dark stains on the stock and forearm. The loading tool and bullet mold are good and retain 25% of the original blue finish with scattered surface rust. This is a fine example of a Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle with desirable casehardened receiver.