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Not sure if you are still surveying late model 1886’s. I have serial number 159818a. 24″ 33wcf, half mag, take down.
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oldcrankyyankee said
Not sure if you are still surveying late model 1886’s. I have serial number 159818a. 24″ 33wcf, half mag, take down.
Yes we are still surveying them… currently we have documented 1,160 of the 14,100 late production Model 1886’s.
I have few questions about your rifle;
1. Does it have a Nickel Steel or a Proof Steel barrel?
2. Is it marked “MADE IN U.S.A.” and “MODEL 1886” on opposite sides of the barrel?
3. Does the barrel have a 2-digit year number stamped on the bottom?
Bert
WACA 6571L, Historian & Board of Director Member
Dear Bert,
To answer your questions about rifle number 159818a
1) the barrel is marked as ——– nickel steel barrel ———
especially for smokeless powder
2) it is marked made in the u.s.a. on the left side of barrel appox 1 1/2 inches ahead of rear sight dove tail, which is filled with a blank with a set screw, and marked model 1886 on the right appox 1 1/2 behind the dove tail.
3) not sure how to find the date or where it is on the bottom of barrel, but according to a serial number check on this web site it was made in 1931
4) also as a foot note both barrel and receiver are stamped with the oval wp proof mark, if that helps.
oldcrankyyankee said
Dear Bert,To answer your questions about rifle number 159818a
3) not sure how to find the date or where it is on the bottom of barrel, but according to a serial number check on this web site it was made in 1931
To view the 2-digit date (year) number stamped on the bottom of the barrel, you first need to take down the rifle, then take the forend stock off of the barrel assembly. The date is stamped on the bottom of the barrel near (or inside) the take down extension ring. If you are not comfortable in disassembling your rifle to check the date, by all means, do not do so.
Bert
WACA 6571L, Historian & Board of Director Member
Dear Bert,
I recently provided you with some info for the late model 1886 survey, ser#159818. Curiosity killed the cat, where does that number fit in the survey? What is the latest know serial number currently known? while I’m at it , what info is available for 1886 src’s? Number made, caliber’s, ect. ect.
Currently Mark & I have document 1,183 (8.45%) of the Model 1886s in the 146000 – 160000 serial range. Our goal is to document at least 10% (1,400) before I sit down and write the article for the WACA Collector magazine.
The highest serial number identified thus far is 159996, and we have (17) documented documented that are later than 159818. Of the 1,183 we have documented thus far, (41) of them are SRCs. I have not yet created the caliber production tables based on specific variations, but will do so for the future article.
Bert
WACA 6571L, Historian & Board of Director Member
Hi All
I have a bit of an 1886 puzzle that you may be able to help with.
My rifle number is 94538. It’s a 45-70 with a round barrel and a full length mag tube. I asked the museum people to send me the information that they had (factory letter) and they came back with 40-82, octagon barrel and half length mag tube.
Obviously it could be a transcription error – either then or now – someone wrote the wrong information about my rifle. However, there’s another possibility – perhaps it’s a mash-up of two rifles or a re-chambering job.
The barrel has “Saginaw” stamped into it (a long time ago, I think) and so I wonder whether it was re-chambered in 45-70 post-manufacture by an outfit in Saginaw?. The stock and the forearm match and the rifle cycles and fires 45-70. The primer strike is centered.
What do you all think – rechamber or clerical error?
Doug Bailey said
Hi AllI have a bit of an 1886 puzzle that you may be able to help with.
What do you all think – rechamber or clerical error?
I believe that neither of your scenarios is the case. Based on what you have described, somebody made a new (replacement) barrel for it, and included a replacement magazine tube and forend stock with the replacement barrel. Can you post a clear picture of the barrel and all markings on it?
Bert
WACA 6571L, Historian & Board of Director Member
Hi Bert
I’m struggling to post the pictures – it asks me for source and dimensions, but no picture shows up. I have them on my OneDrive
I enabled sharing so the link should work if someone can figure out how to attach to a post. I captured all of the text on the barrel – the caliber, the strange “Saginaw” stamp and the Winchester Repeating Arms Company standard text.
I also got a reply from the museum – they double checked their records and so there’s no transcription error on their end. It’s either a mistake from 1894, or a re-barrel and re-chamber job. The rifle cycles well – including the extractor – so I’m really puzzled – they would need to change the bolt/extractor, barrel, forearm, stock, mag tube etc to make this change – basically all you save from the old gun is the receiver body. I don’t really see the point in going to all that trouble.
Doug,
It appears that the barrel and magazine tube was swapped from an older rifle. All kinds of strange thing transpired with old Winchesters, and barrel swapping was not uncommon.
Bert
WACA 6571L, Historian & Board of Director Member
Bert – that’s really interesting. I guess many of these old rifles have stories of one kind or another. You said “older” – what in the markings leads you to think that it came from an older rather than newer rifle? Also – any idea what the Saginaw stamp means?
Doug Bailey said
You said “older” – what in the markings leads you to think that it came from an older rather than newer rifle? Also – any idea what the Saginaw stamp means?
The style of the address marking on the barrel is the earliest type that Winchester used for the Model 1886 barrels, and that is what lead me to the conclusion that it came from an “older” rifle.
The Saginaw marking was more than likely added by the person who swapped the barrel, but that is only my guess.
Bert
WACA 6571L, Historian & Board of Director Member
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