This is a special order Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle with factory letter. The letter describes this rifle as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 40/65, Barrel Type: Octagon, Barrel Length: 28 inches, Trigger: Plain, Plain Pistol grip stock, 1/2 Magazine" and "Shotgun Butt". The letter states that this rifle was received in the warehouse on February 17, 1894 and shipped from Winchester on February 19, 1894. The 26 inch octagon barrel, full-length magazine, bolt, loading gate, trigger and steel shotgun buttplate are blued and the forearm cap, receiver, hammer and lever are color casehardened. The pistol grip stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut with an oil finish. The bottom of the pistol grip has an ebony inlay. The barrel has a standard sporting style front sight with nickel silver blade and a blank in the rear sight dove-tail. A Lyman "N-Ni" receiver sight is mounted on the left side of the receiver. Winchester sling swivel eyelets are mounted on the forearm cap and stock. The upper tang is factory drilled and tapped. 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 dovetail. The caliber: "40-65 W.C.F." is roll-stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight dovetail and the receiver. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "- MODEL 1886.-". The 1884 and 1885 patent dates are roll-stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger and the serial number "83507" is stamped in script numerals behind the rear tang screw. Plain pistol grip stocks are rare on Model 1886 rifles.

Very fine as shortened. The rifle retains 75% of the blue finish on the barrel, magazine, bolt, loading gate, trigger and receiver sight. The shotgun buttplate has about 50% of the blue finish intact and has faded to a blue-gray patina. The receiver has 70% case colors on the sides while the contact points on the top, sides and bottom have faded to a silver patina. Most of the muted case colors are present on the forearm cap, hammer and lever. The plain pistol grip stock and forearm are excellent with minimal handling wear. The markings on the barrel and receiver are crisp. There is no indication in the factory letter that the rifle was returned to the Winchester factory for replacement of the original 28-inch barrel and half-magazine with a 26-inch barrel and full-length magazine. This is an attractive Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle with rare plain pistol grip stock.