Winchester Model 1886 Fancy Sporting Rifle with 1968 Winchester Gun Museum letter. The museum letter describes this Winchester Model 1886 as: "rifle, caliber 45-90, octagon barrel, plain trigger" with "checkered pistol grip stock". The letter further states that this rifle was shipped from Winchester on May 14, 1890. This rifle features a deluxe, fancy grade walnut forearm and pistol grip stock with factory "Style H" checkering. The stock and forearm are highly figured XX or XXX American walnut with a high polish piano finish. The pistol grip has the standard ebony inlay. The rifle has a full octagon barrel with full length magazine. The barrel has a "Winchester Express" front sight with white bead and buckhorn, sporting style, rear sight with knurled edges and screw-adjustable center-piece. The upper receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.-" in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The caliber, "45-90 W.C.F." is roll stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver. Oval early 20th century Winchester "W/P" proof marks are stamped on the top barrel flat ahead of the caliber designation and on the top of 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. The serial number is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the tang screws. The rifle has the very desirable color casehardened finish on the receiver, hammer, lever, forearm cap and crescent buttplate with vivid case colors. The barrel, magazine and trigger have a blue finish. The bolt and loading gate are bright blue. Designed by firearms genius John M. Browning, the Winchester Model 1886 had one of the strongest lever actions ever utilized on a Winchester rifle and was capable of handling the most powerful hunting cartridges of the day.

Extremely fine. This stunning rifle retains at 98% of the factory blue and casehardened finish. 97% of the original blue is present on the barrel and magazine. The Winchester legend, caliber markings and rework proof marks are perfect. The bolt retains 98% of the bright blue finish. The bright blue on the loading port cover has faded slightly but is 90% intact. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate have fiery case colors. The casehardened components have protective lacquer coating. There are two non-factory filler screws in left rear frame. The highly figured, fancy grade, walnut stock and forearm are also in extremely fine condition and have 98% of the piano finish intact. The fine checkering on the stock and forearm shows very slight handling with sharp diamonds. There are several very small pressure marks on the forearm near the junction with the receiver. This is an attractive example of a desirable deluxe Winchester Model 1886 Sporting Rifle.