Interesting conundrum with a, "one of a kind" M1886 Winchester|General Discussions & Questions|Forum|Winchester Collector

There’s some very interesting Winchester’s at the Redding auction.  He is a one of a kind M1886.  Or at least, it was a one of a kind.  The feature that made it so very special is the extra heavy barrel. However, as the descriptions mentions, the barrel is not original.  I can’t quite decipher if the original barrel was restored (i.e. 12 inches added back on) or duplicated to original specifications?  What a tragedy (crime?) occurred the day that barrel was lobbed off.  I suppose whoever did this was trying to make the rifle usable.  I can imagine in it’s original configuration, it would have been heavy in the hand to carry all day.

Winchester – Mod. 1886 – 45-70 Cal. Lever Action Rifle – Here is a Very Interesting 1886 as When it Shipped Originally
From Winchester in 1892, it Was Factory Special Ordered w/A 28” Extra Heavy 12 ½ Pound Octagon Barrel & Set Triggers –
When This Gun Was Purchased by a Winchester Collector by the Name of Terry Mauk, (For Whom We Sold His Collection
Around 2009), in the Early 2000s it Had a Regular 26” 45-70 Cal. Barrel & About 16” of the Original 12 ½” Pound Barrel
w/the Forearm & Cap – Terry Did Research & Found Out Through Talking w/John Madl Who Wrote the “Identifying Your
Model 1886 Winchester” Book That This Gun is 1 of 33 Heavy Weighed Barrels Made by Winchester in the Model 1886 & 1
of 9 w/Set Trigger, 1 of 2, w/28” Barrel & 1 of 1 w/12 ½ Pound Barrel – Terry, w/The Help of the Winchester Community
Was Put in Touch w/A Company Named Wind River Rifle Co. That Specialized in Making Barrels for Winchester to the
Correct Specs of the Time Period w/Even the Correct Barrel Stamping Dies – This Gun Was Shipped to Them Around 2007 &
They Performed the Work on the Barrel, Forearm & Magazine Tube to Restore it Back to its Original Configuration – With
That Being Said, Here is the Opportunity to Own the Only Winchester 1886 12 ½ Pound Barrel Gun Ever Made, Even Though
the Barrel is Not Original but Made Correctly to Winchester Specs – Gun Has a Straight Grip Wood Butt Stock w/Metal
Crescent Butt Plate – w/Tang Peep Sight & Set Trigger & Heavy!! – Factory Letter Accompanies the Gun – Fully Operational
– Mfg. in 1892 – Serial #54318