The John Moses Browning designed Winchester Model 1886 is one of the most popular Winchester lever actions. Browning's design, refined by Winchester's team, was capable of firing more powerful cartridges than any Winchester repeater before, making it an excellent big game rifle, but production was still very limited compared to Winchester's smaller rifles like the Model 1892 and 1894. Only 160,000 were manufactured between 1886 and the end of production in 1935, compared to 1,000,000 Model 1894s already manufactured by 1927, and 1,004,675 Model 1892s were manufactured before production was halted in 1941. The earlier 1886s, especially high condition rifles with stunning original case colors like this one, are highly sought after and valuable firearms. This beautiful Winchester Model 1886 comes with a factory letter (copy) stating it was received in the warehouse on November 18, 1892, shipped on May 2, 1893, and confirms the round barrel in .45-90 caliber and plain trigger. The barrel is fitted with a dovetail blade front sight and an elevation adjustable rear sight, and is marked with the two-line Winchester address and the caliber designation. The upper tang is marked "-MODEL 1886-." The lower tang has the two-line patent dates marking and serial number. It has the desirable early casehardened receiver found only on Model 1886 rifles manufactured prior to 1902. Mounted with a plain walnut forearm and straight grip stock. The buttstock is fitted with a crescent buttplate.

Exceptionally fine. The barrel and magazine tube retain 90% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. The bolt retains 95% original blue finish. 90% original niter blue remains on the loading gate. The frame retains 75% vivid original case colors. The hammer, lever, and forend cap retain 70% original case colors. The wood is excellent with some minor dings and scratches and much of the finish remaining. Mechanically excellent. A very attractive Winchester Model 1886 lever action rifle in desirable .45-90 WCF.