antler1 said

mrcvs said
As others said, not being antique and inn.40-82 hurts this one, but the condition of this one, while decent, really hurts this one.  It’s a 75% gun when you account for barrel wear, patinated areas, etc.  Note the nice chunk missing from the right side of the stock where it meets the upper tang.
Model 1886 rifles have lost a quarter to a third of their value since the Election of 2024.  Also, this rifle falls in a very difficult spot when it comes to interest and ultimate sale.  It has too many features and too much condition to be entry level, a first time purchaser with limited funds who just wants to own a Winchester 1886 rifle.  Thus, it cannot sell in the under $1500 or $2000 range to a guy with limited funds and wants a Winchester 1886.  This first time purchaser will likely want something to shoot, and unless he reloads, which is extremely unlikely, any caliber other than .45-70 will likely be of little or no interest.
A higher end collector will find the special order features but will be turned off by the condition.  He would rather spend more for something with condition.
Caveat emptor!  It is these midrange Winchester Model 1886 (and 1892s, 1894s, 1895s, etc) that will become increasingly a burden.  Which is really sad because, not only do I have a few of them, but they used to be a stepping stone for collectors of modest means who became aware of and appreciated those special order features and would spend a little more for them, but couldn’t afford a pristine example.
Sort of reflects society.  This very rifle would have been owned by a middle class individual the last several decades.  As the middle class diminishes, so does interest in this diminish.  And so the burgeoning lower class and the ever wealthy upper class will chase both ends of the spectrum leaving this one soundly in the dust with little interest.
  

I guess I'm still in the dust pile as I find this a very appealing 1886
  

I didn’t say that I don’t find this rifle appealing, as I do.  It’s just that folks like you and I who do are dwindling.  It’s still appealing to many, most who lack the funds to acquire it.  Or those that have the funds strive for something better in most cases.

Thanks for taking the time to show more of it to us.  

If you didn't completely blow your Strategic Materials budget,  maybe Buffalo Arms has still got some of the brass. (I'm just as profligate with a friend's money as I am with my own. But this is a high priority thing.)

Would you mind if I downloaded a couple of these images?

mrcvs said
As others said, not being antique and inn.40-82 hurts this one, but the condition of this one, while decent, really hurts this one.  It’s a 75% gun when you account for barrel wear, patinated areas, etc.  Note the nice chunk missing from the right side of the stock where it meets the upper tang.
Model 1886 rifles have lost a quarter to a third of their value since the Election of 2024.  Also, this rifle falls in a very difficult spot when it comes to interest and ultimate sale.  It has too many features and too much condition to be entry level, a first time purchaser with limited funds who just wants to own a Winchester 1886 rifle.  Thus, it cannot sell in the under $1500 or $2000 range to a guy with limited funds and wants a Winchester 1886.  This first time purchaser will likely want something to shoot, and unless he reloads, which is extremely unlikely, any caliber other than .45-70 will likely be of little or no interest.
A higher end collector will find the special order features but will be turned off by the condition.  He would rather spend more for something with condition.
Caveat emptor!  It is these midrange Winchester Model 1886 (and 1892s, 1894s, 1895s, etc) that will become increasingly a burden.  Which is really sad because, not only do I have a few of them, but they used to be a stepping stone for collectors of modest means who became aware of and appreciated those special order features and would spend a little more for them, but couldn’t afford a pristine example.
Sort of reflects society.  This very rifle would have been owned by a middle class individual the last several decades.  As the middle class diminishes, so does interest in this diminish.  And so the burgeoning lower class and the ever wealthy upper class will chase both ends of the spectrum leaving this one soundly in the dust with little interest.
  

I guess I'm still in the dust pile as I find this a very appealing 1886

Model 1886 rifles have lost a quarter to a third of their value since the Election of 2024.  Also, this rifle falls in a very difficult spot when it comes to interest and ultimate sale.  It has too many features and too much condition to be entry level, a first time purchaser with limited funds who just wants to own a Winchester 1886 rifle.  Thus, it cannot sell in the under $1500 or $2000 range to a guy with limited funds and wants a Winchester 1886.  This first time purchaser will likely want something to shoot, and unless he reloads, which is extremely unlikely, any caliber other than .45-70 will likely be of little or no interest.

A higher end collector will find the special order features but will be turned off by the condition.  He would rather spend more for something with condition.

Caveat emptor!  It is these midrange Winchester Model 1886 (and 1892s, 1894s, 1895s, etc) that will become increasingly a burden.  Which is really sad because, not only do I have a few of them, but they used to be a stepping stone for collectors of modest means who became aware of and appreciated those special order features and would spend a little more for them, but couldn’t afford a pristine example.

Sort of reflects society.  This very rifle would have been owned by a middle class individual the last several decades.  As the middle class diminishes, so does interest in this diminish.  And so the burgeoning lower class and the ever wealthy upper class will chase both ends of the spectrum leaving this one soundly in the dust with little interest.

chief1966 said
Hello Bert, I have a model 55 to add to your data base.
#1049821, standard take down rifle with 24" bbl,  standard flat top bbl sights.
Chambered in 30WCF, metal but plate.
Ed
  

Ed,

It is a new entry in the research survey.  Winchester apparently assembled a good-sized batch of Model 55 rifles on June 29th, 1929.  Your rifle is (1) of (6) identical rifles that I have documented that are in a very tight serial range that were manufactured on that date.

If you can, please confirm that it has a "29" barrel date and send me a picture of it.

Thanks,

Bert

There is a certain freedom afforded by reproductions. Because my own 405 is rice powered and so of low origins, I may give it over to my gunsmith to install either a reproduction Silver's pad like T.R. had or a reproduction patent date pad. But for the time being, it will get fed 40/82 velocity handloads. 

#1049821, standard take down rifle with 24" bbl,  standard flat top bbl sights.

Chambered in 30WCF, metal but plate.

Ed

Thanks Ed 

Mike

steve004 said

TR said
   Nice gun but 40-82 and modern caps the value. That said it's probably worth what he's asking. T/R
  

I agree that the chambering and the non-antique status hurt the value.  For me, the wear - little dings and blue loss on the barrel - particularly around the barrel address - turn me off.  I'll not go as far as to say this wear, "doesn't add up" to the wear on the rest of the rifle, but it's giving me pause and one of the reasons I'd have to hold this rifle in my hands before giving it serious consideration.  Even if I did hold the rifle in my hands and assured myself the wear did, "add up" I would still find the barrel wear unappealing.  I do like the bright blue on the receiver sides - that's the first aspect the drew me to the rifle.  Then I looked at the barrel and though, "oh"
  

I'm probably "above my raising" here but, given the difference in bluing methods employed by Winchester to color barrels and receivers, at the time, i have usually seen more blue loss on the machine-blue receiver than the rust-blue barrel. 

TR said
   Nice gun but 40-82 and modern caps the value. That said it's probably worth what he's asking. T/R
  

I agree that the chambering and the non-antique status hurt the value.  For me, the wear - little dings and blue loss on the barrel - particularly around the barrel address - turn me off.  I'll not go as far as to say this wear, "doesn't add up" to the wear on the rest of the rifle, but it's giving me pause and one of the reasons I'd have to hold this rifle in my hands before giving it serious consideration.  Even if I did hold the rifle in my hands and assured myself the wear did, "add up" I would still find the barrel wear unappealing.  I do like the bright blue on the receiver sides - that's the first aspect the drew me to the rifle.  Then I looked at the barrel and though, "oh"

Thanks for sharing!

Tony