This is a very fine example of a special order Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle with factory letter. The letter describes the rifle features as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber:38/56, Barrel Type: Round, Trigger: Plain", and "1/2 Magazine" and states that it was received in the warehouse on August 17, 1889 and shipped from Winchester on August 17, 1889. The barrel, bolt, loading gate and trigger are blued, and the forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut with a varnish finish. The barrel has a standard, sporting style, front sight with nickel silver blade and a buckhorn, sporting style, rear sight with serrated edges and screw adjustable center piece. The upper tang is factory drilled and tapped for a tang sight. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "- MANUFACTURED BY THE-\-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS Co. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. - " in two lines ahead of the rear sight with arrows instead of dashes on either end of the marking. "38-56 W.C.F." is roll-stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. The upper tang is roll-stamped: "-MODEL 1886-". The 1884 and 1885 patent dates are stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger while the serial number "33623" is stamped in script numerals behind the rear tang screw.

Very fine. Nearly 95% of the blue remains on the barrel; the Winchester legend and caliber designation are clear. The bolt, loading gate and trigger have nearly all of the blue finish. The forearm cap, receiver, lever, hammer have 75% of the color casehardened finish. The case colors on the hammer and sides of the receiver are strong while the case colors on the forearm cap, and the top bottom and edges of the receiver have faded and show traces of a silver patina. The case colors on the crescent buttplate show more wear and have developed a silver-gray patina. The stock and forearm are also in very fine condition and retain 85% or more of the original finish. The forearm and stock have light handling marks. Most of the wear is concentrated on the underside of the forearm. This is an attractive example of a Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle with special order half-magazine and very desirable color casehardened receiver.