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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
Chuck said
A picture would really help.
I will take some and post them. Thanks
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.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
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
Here are a coupe shots of the rifles themselves
Rob
45-90
sn 50595 made 1890
45-70
sn 112893 made 1897
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