The Cody Firearms Museum letter lists this Winchester Model 1886 Takedown rifle's features as: (1) Caliber: 50 express, (2) Barrel Type: Octagon, (3) Trigger: Plain, (4) Takedown and (5) Winchester High Velocity. It states that this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on March 22, 1909. The Winchester High Velocity was a smokeless power version of the 50-110 Express with a 300 grain bullet and muzzle velocity of 2,225 feet per second. The .50 Winchester High Velocity cartridge was comparable to some British African cartridges. Model 1886 rifles chambered for the .50 Winchester High Velocity cartridge had nickel steel barrels and were fitted with special express sights. Fewer than 50 Winchester Model 1886 rifles were chambered for the .50 Winchester High Velocity cartridge. The 50-110 Express was introduced in to the Model 1886 line in 1887 and was discontinued in 1919. According to Madis in "THE WINCHESTER BOOK", rifles manufactured for 50 Express were far few in number compared to the highly popular and more readily available 45-70. The rifle has a 26-inch full octagon barrel with full length magazine. The barrel has a Winchester Express front sight with white bead and a rare three leaf Winchester Express rear sight with short yardage leaves marked "50", "1" and "2" and platinum sight lines. The barrel, magazine, forearm cap, receiver and bolt have the Winchester commercial blue finish. The loading gate is niter blue. The hammer, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut with a low-luster varnish finish. 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 "50 EX." is roll-stamped on the top barrel flat just ahead of the receiver. Winchester oval "W/P" proofmarks are stamped on the top barrel flat in front of the caliber designation and on the top of the receiver behind the takedown collar. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "MODEL 1886/-WINCHESTER-TRADE MARK" in three-lines. The 1884 and 1885 patent dates are roll-stamped on the lower receiver tang behind the trigger, and the serial number "139283" is stamped in script numerals behind the tang screws.

Excellent. The rifle is all original and retains 95% plus of the bright original blue finish overall. The barrel and forearm cap have nearly all of the commercial blue finish. The magazine band and tube have some light takedown scuff marks. The takedown collar has some extremely light edge wear. The receiver has light high-point wear and some insignificant scratches and handling marks. The bolt retains nearly all of the blue finish. The loading gate has 98% or more of the fire blue finish. The case colors on the hammer and lever are strong with 98% remaining. The case colors on the buttplate have faded slightly. One half of the 100 yard rear sight leaf is broken. The stock and forearm are both in excellent overall condition with a few scattered and very minor handling marks. The stock retains nearly all the original finish while the forearm finish shows light handling wear. The action functions perfectly. This is an excellent example of a very rare, documented, special order Winchester Model 1886 Takedown rifle chambered for the highly desirable .50 Winchester High Velocity Cartridge.