Manufactured in 1895, the Winchester Model 1886 was a rugged rifle designed by John Browning that offered very similar firepower to the earlier Model 1876, but in a smaller, more robust package, all highly valued attributes in the American west that was still far from tamed. These rifles were chambered in a variety of large calibers, all of which offered anyone on the frontier the comfort of knowing they had a rifle capable of stopping nearly anything thrown at it. This particular example is chambered in .40-70 W.C.F. and is quite possibly one of the finest, if not the finest standard configuration example known. The top barrel flat is marked with the two-line address in front of the rear sight and the ".40-70 W.C.F." caliber marking at the breech. The model designation is marked on the upper tang, and the two-line patent dates and serial number are on the lower tang. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight, two-leaf folding rear sight, and a peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It's mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate.

Excellent, retains 97% plus of the original blue finish, 98% plus of the vibrant original case colors on the receiver, and 75% on the balance, with some light edge wear and handling marks on the barrel and magazine tube and the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, most noticeably on the buttplate. The lightly sanded wood is also excellent with a period plugged sling swivel stud hole in the bottom of the stock and some scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.