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Winchester 1886 correct rear sight
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Robert Drummond Jr
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September 24, 2024 - 6:12 pm
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Hi guys,

I recently got an antique Winchester 1886 45-90 serial #50595 (1890) which has a 26″ full octagon barrel and has an open rear sight that is missing the elevator. Examining the rifle it is in pretty decent shape with the exception of the rear sight. It doesn’t appear that is has been changed at least recently, but I want to get the sight period correct. I have a few other antique 86’s and they have flip up barrel sights I also have an 86 (1905 vintage) that has a sight similar to the one on the new rifle. So it got me thinking about what would be right for this rifle. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Rob

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Chuck
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September 25, 2024 - 5:26 pm
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A picture would really help.

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Robert Drummond Jr
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September 26, 2024 - 12:37 am
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Chuck said
A picture would really help.

  

I will take some and post them. Thanks

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Bill Hockett
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September 28, 2024 - 4:02 pm
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Sights for Winchester rifles during that time were mostly not unique to one model.  Sights on plain rifles usually do not letter.

The sporting rear sight was used on other models including the 1866, 1873, 1876, Single Shot, 1886, you get the idea.  At the time your rifle was made, the sporting rear sight had a small adjustment screw so the slot in the buckhorn could be moved up and down.  The elevators had angled flats as shown in the other photo.  These “black powder” era elevators can be tough to find but Ben on this website has fixed me up in the past.  He specializes in antique sights.

The sporting leaf rear sight was the other most often seen on large bore Winchester rifles.  For the 1886 it would have a leaf that ranged out to 1000 yards.  Here is a photo of a sporting leaf rear sight on an 1876 carbine.

 

sporting01-1.jpgImage Enlarger

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1876-carbine-01-1.jpgImage Enlarger

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I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder

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Robert Drummond Jr
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October 2, 2024 - 3:36 am
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Thanks Bill,

What you describe is what I have. I have bought stuff from Ben and I will ask him if he can get me an elevator. Below is some pictures albeit not great the first two and the vary last (7th) are the 45-90 sights and the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th are the 45-70 both antiques.

Rob

 

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Robert Drummond Jr
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October 2, 2024 - 3:46 am
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Here are a coupe shots of the rifles themselves

Rob

45-90IMG_2217.JPGImage Enlarger

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sn  50595  made 1890

45-70IMG_2310.JPGImage Enlarger

IMG_2312.JPGImage Enlarger
sn 112893 made 1897

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TR
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October 2, 2024 - 4:05 am
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 Robert,

 The two pictures of the 45-90 s/n 50595 show a gun with small wood, no curl in the toe of the butt. The pictures of the 45-70 s/n 112893 show a gun with large wood, toe of butt plate curl forward. Either the pictures are mislabeled  or the stocks are switched. T/R

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