This is an excellent example of a truly unique Winchester Model 1886 Sporting Rifle manufactured in 1888. The accompanying rifle is complete with a Cody Firearms Museum letter that verifies the rifle configuration, 45/90 caliber, round barrel, plain trigger, shotgun butt, that it was received in the warehouse on January 17, 1888 and that it was shipped to order number 3227 on January 18, 1888. The top of the rifle bolt is lightly inscribed "WESTLEY RICHARDS & CO./LONDON & BIRMINGHAM" on either side of the extractor. The left side of the barrel is stamped with the London "crown/GP" proofmark followed by the bore diameter ".450", the "crown/V" London view mark and the London proof house mark. A London "crown/V" view mark is stamped on the top of the bolt and on the upper left front of the receiver. The top of the barrel is marked "- MANUFACTURED BY THE -/- WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A.-" with arrows at either end of each line ahead of the rear sight and "45-90 W.C.F." at the breech. "-MODEL 1886-" is marked on the upper tang, "1884/1885" patent dates are marked on the lower tang behind the trigger and the script serial number "12806" is stamped between the lower tang screws. The barrel is fitted with an English Express style front sight with ivory bead and raised ears and a unique English Express rear sight. The rear sight features a fixed 100 yard leaf and two folding leafs marked 200 and 300 yards. Each leaf has a platinum sighting line. An adjustable folding ladder sight with graduations from 400-900 yards and sliding elevator bar with a platinum sighting line is mounted in front of the 300 yard leaf. Blue barrel, magazine tube, bolt, loading gate and casehardened remaining parts. Mounted with a smooth walnut forearm and straight grip stock with a special order steel shotgun buttplate.

Excellent. The barrel and magazine retain 95% of the original blue finish. The blue on the forward portion of the barrel has a slightly brown patina in strong light. There are four very small areas of light pitting on the right side of the barrel and magazine. The bolt and loading gate retain most of the high polish blue. 80% of the bright blue finish is present on the buttplate. The receiver retains 90% of the original casehardened finish. The case colors on the sides of the receiver are vivid, and the case colors on the bridge and the underside show light handling but have not silvered out. The forend cap and lever retain 90% original faded case colors. The hammer retains 95% of the case colors. The wood is very fine with a number of light scratches and dents on the stock with the heaviest concentrated on the comb near the buttplate. The forearm has several very light scratches and handling marks. This is a unique and excellent example of a Winchester Model 1886 Sporting Rifle with casehardened receiver, very rare Westley Richards & Co. markings and special English Express front and rear sights sighted by Westley Richards for African or Indian big game during the height of the British Empire.