Winchester Model 1886 rifle manufactured in 1896 and chambered for the Winchester .50-110 Express cartridge. This rifle is accompanied by a factory letter that states the serial number was applied on September 11, 1896, and the rifle was received in the warehouse on December 17, 1902, and shipped from the Winchester warehouse on December 18, 1902. The letter describes the rifle as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 50 Express, Barrel Type: Round, Trigger: Plain, 1/2 Magazine" and "Sling and Swivels". The barrel, forearm cap, receiver, bolt, loading gate and trigger are blue, and the hammer, lever, and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are varnished, straight grain American walnut. The round barrel has an express style front sight with nickel silver blade and a Winchester Express rear sight with three folding leaves. The leaves have platinum sight lines and are numbered: "50", "1" and "2". The receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped. Factory swivel eyes are fitted to the forearm cap and stock, and Winchester sling hooks are attached to both swivel eyes. 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 designation: "50 EX" is stamped on the center-line of the barrel just ahead of the receiver. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "-MODEL 1886-". The 1884/1885 patent dates are stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger, and the serial number is stamped in script numerals behind the rear tang screw.

Very fine. This scarce rifle is all original and retains 70% plus of the blue and casehardened finish. The barrel has scattered minor scratches and small spots of age discoloration. The bottom and sides of the receiver show edge wear with some light pitting on the upper corners of the receiver. The bolt has nearly all of the blue finish remaining while the loading gate has faded to a gray-brown patina. The hammer and sides of the lever have strong case colors; the case colors on the bottom of the lever have aged to a silver patina. The casehardened buttplate has a gray-brown patina with age discoloration on the heel and right side. The barrel and receiver markings are clear. The stock and forearm remain very good with 85% of the varnish finish remaining. Most of the finish wear is concentrated on the stock wrist and underside of the forearm. The stock and forearm have scattered, minor scratches and handling marks. This is a very fine example of a scarce and desirable special order Winchester Model 1886 Express Rifle.