Winchester Model 1886 Sporting Rifle manufactured in 1892. The rifle is accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum Records Office letter that describes it as: "Winchester Model 86, SN 63978, Date In 3-10-92, Type Rifle, Caliber 40-82, Barrel Octagon" and "Trigger Plain". The letter indicates this rifle was shipped from Winchester on May 12, 1892. The rifle has a 26 inch, full octagon barrel with full length magazine. The barrel has a sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and a buckhorn, sporting style rear sight with serrated edges and adjustable center piece. The receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped. The barrel, magazine, bolt and loading gate are blued. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, trigger, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are oil finished American walnut. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.-" ahead of the rear sight. The caliber, "40-82 W.C.F." is roll-stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver. The upper tang is roll-stamped:; "-MODEL. 1886.-". The 1884 and 1885 patent dates are stamped in two lines on the lower tang behind the receiver and the serial number is stamped in script numerals behind the rear tang screw.

Very fine. This fine looking rifle retains 85% plus of the original blue and 50% plus original color casehardened finish. Most of the blue finish is present on the barrel, magazine, bolt and loading gate. The blue finish on the bottom of the magazine is thin and starting to develop a blue-brown patina. The balance of the case colors on the forearm cap, contact points of the receiver, lever and buttplate have traces of silver patina. The hammer, sides of the receiver, lever, and upper tang retain strong case colors. The barrel and receiver markings are crisp. The stock and forearm are both in fine overall condition and retain much of the original oil finish. Wear is limited to a few very minor handling marks on the forearm and several light scratches on the bottom of the stock. This is a very fine example of a Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle with desirable casehardened receiver.