Lot 2: Winchester 1886-Rifle 38-56 WCF

This rifle was manufactured in 1889 and has a special order half-round/half-octagon barrel chambered for the .38-56 W.C.F. cartridge. The barrel has a "Winchester Express" front sight with colored bead and a factory blank in the rear sight dovetail. A Lyman folding combination rear sight is mounted on the upper tang. 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 dovetail. The caliber: "38-56 W.C.F." is stamped on the top barrel flat just ahead of the receiver. The 1884 and 1885 patent dates are stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger, and the serial number "45113" is stamped in script numerals between the tang screws. The rifle has a blued barrel, magazine, bolt, trigger and loading gate. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are oil finished, straight grain American walnut.

Very fine. The half-octagon barrel and full-length magazine have nearly 95% of the blue finish. The barrel markings are sharp. The bolt, trigger and loading gate have more 97% of the blue finish. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer and lever retain more than 85% of the vivid case colors. The buttplate has strong case colors at the heel, but the casehardened finish on the bottom has faded to a silver patina. The lightly sanded, refinished stock and forearm are in fine condition. This is an example of a special order Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle with half-round/half octagon barrel.