Winchester 1886 38-56WCF – 1889, 26” OCTAGONAL BARREL

In the late nineteenth century rifles were trending towards larger and more powerful cartridges, John Browning designed the Model 1886 to take advantage of the newest chamberings. Regarded as one of the finest lever actions to be produced by Winchester, the Model 1886 was an instant success, being marketed from 1886 to 1935 with almost one hundred and sixty thousand produced. Offered in many different calibers. The standard 1886 rifle came with a round barrel that measured 26″ in length. This 1889 manufactured example serial numbered 32688 was a special-order rifle with a 26″ Octagonal barrel, full magazine and chambered for 38-56. This cartridge was introduced in 1887 specifically for the Model 1886. The rifle retains 25% of its factory original case color visible on the receiver and both top and bottom tangs. The lever and hammer retain about 40% Case color.  Internally the action functions perfectly with a trigger that breaks crisply with no creep and a bore exhibiting strong rifling, the barrel shows 80% factory bluing going to patina. The furniture shows some handling but is in excellent condition with a rich patina and caped forend.  Fit the crescent buttplate to your shoulder and like Theodore Roosevelt and countless other big game hunters, feel the thrill of holding the premier Winchester Lever gun, The 1886, perfection!

We employ full time gunsmiths on premises and can perform alterations to suit your needs within a few weeks of purchase. Common requests are: -stock bending to suit your particular requirements -addition of any specified butt pad to increase length of pull -alteration of chokes to suit your shooting preferences -lengthening of chambers and forcing cones -darkening stock color with penetrating stains -restoring any part of the gun including rust blue, charcoal blue, bone and charcoal case color, wood restoration and checkering recuts. If you like one our guns but it needs “tweaked”, let us know and we can quote you a time and price. Some enthusiasts like the guns “as found” and others want them “just so”. We often list guns as found and let the particular buyer choose how they want their gun to fit or look.