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March 23, 2007
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Can someone please remind me when Winchester started bluing the receivers on 1886 TD rifles? I know it was discussed on here before, and I tried the search function but that isn’t turning it up.
Thanks,
Matt
November 9, 2008
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Matt,
The TDs were always blued, if you look in old catalogs it states TD were blue. They did CCH some, very limited.
November 9, 2008
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Matt,
The extra lite was also standard blue, even the pre-1898s very rare to see one CCH
March 23, 2007
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Thanks for that info. My first thought was that that was indeed the case. but thought I had read somewhere about a transition point from CC to bluing. This makes sense though.
Thanks,
Matt
March 23, 2007
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Did they ever blue the levers and triggers too? If so, when?
September 22, 2011
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I have actually started a database that attempts to track when the change occurred from case-coloured levers and hammers to blued ones. So far, it appears to have occurred between serial number 152,000 and 154,000, some time in the late teens.
September 22, 2011
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I have accessed my database, and here is the information I have, with regards to levers and hammers, so far. I did not track triggers at the time.
So far, any Winchester 1886’s, 151483 and before, all have case coloured levers and hammers. This particular firearm was received in the warehouse on 11 April 1913.
Numbers 151935, 151228, and 152307 have case-coloured levers, and the hammers are likely blued. Sometimes, after about 100 years, it is difficult to tell if the hammers are blued or not, but I believe this to be the case with these three. 151935 was received in the warehouse on 24 February 1917 and shipped on 23 February 1918.
Numbers 152314, 152764A, and 154130 all contain case-coloured levers and hammers. 152314 was received in the warehouse on 02 November 1916 and shipped out on 06 February 1917. Here is a link to what 154130 looks like:
http://jamesdjulia.com/?s=154130&post_type=page_catalog&meta_key=catalog_aucID&meta_value=358
Number 154204 and 154485A contain blued levers and hammers. Number 154485A shipped on 23 May 1919.
Numbers 156081A and 156985 contain a case-coloured lever, and the hammers are probably blued. Interestingly, these are both in .50 Express, during a time in which most were either in .45-70 or .33 WCF. Number 156081A was received in the warehouse on 23 May 1919 and shipped out on 15 December 1921. The over 2 1/2 years in the warehouse clearly suggests the unpopularity of that calibre at that time.
Numbers 157559, 158359, 159367, and 159987 all contain blued hammers and levers. Number 159367 dates to 1921.
So, it appears there was a transition during the time frames noted above. Perhaps levers and hammers were randomly selected until used up, which is why there is no clear transition, but rather, a more gradual transition.
All dates were in information provided to me. Obviously, many lack definitive dates. Others could be erroneous. I believe the data is sound, with the exception of number 151935. The dates appear later than that of similar vintage firearms. In fact, the link to dating one’s firearm, as found on this forum, dates this particular firearm to 1912.
If anyone has information on other firearms during this time period, to add to my database, it would be greatly appreciated.
January 24, 2013
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mrcvs
Interesting study, thanks for sharing.
dimrod,
All 1886 triggers were blued, since the trigger is also the sear, they were made out of a thru hardening steel, not a case hardening steel
V/R
Mike
September 29, 1993
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This is the same time frame for Model 1894s transitioning from case colored lever/hammers to blued one. I suspect the same is true for Model 1892s, Model 1885s and 1895s also.
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March 23, 2007
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I meant to ask about hammers and levers, not triggers. Brain to finger disconnect. I ask because I have serial #144,886 in 33 WCF with a blued hammer and lever. It looks factory blued to me but my other two 1886s (earlier guns) have cased hammers and levers. I always wondered about this 33. It seems to be numbered too early to have a factory blued lever and hammer.
September 22, 2011
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dimrod said
I meant to ask about hammers and levers, not triggers. Brain to finger disconnect. I ask because I have serial #144,886 in 33 WCF with a blued hammer and lever. It looks factory blued to me but my other two 1886s (earlier guns) have cased hammers and levers. I always wondered about this 33. It seems to be numbered too early to have a factory blued lever and hammer.
The earliest firearm I have in my survey as being blued with regards to hammer and lever is 154,204. I have several others in my survey from the 141,000 to 154,000 range, and all clearly have case-coloured levers and hammers. If yours is factory original, yours would be the earliest, by far, that contains a blued lever and hammer. Can you post pictures of number 144,886? Thank you.
March 23, 2007
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Here’s some photos that I had on file.
[Image Can Not Be Found]
I’m not sure how to get them to appear w/o cutting and pasting.
December 12, 2012
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I have #158943A and it has a blued lever and hammer.
September 22, 2011
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dimrod said
Here’s some photos that I had on file.
[Image Can Not Be Found]I’m not sure how to get them to appear w/o cutting and pasting.
I am not 100% sure yours is a reblue, or not. If reblued, the job was excellent, as it appears factory original. The reason why I think it ‘may’ be a reblue, is because the consistency is not the same with regards to metal just beyond the receiver, on the rear part of the forearm. Anyone else want to share their thoughts?
Maybe it is a factory reblue, done during the time of blued hammers and levers, such that it would have an earlier serial number, but yet a blued hammer and lever? Do you have a factory letter on this one? It may show that it was returned & repaired at a later date.
March 23, 2007
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mrcvs,
You are right. There is some flaking on the takedown iron. I have some other TD rifles and for some reason the steel on on this portion of the firearms does not hold blueing as well.
September 22, 2011
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dimrod,
Do you have a factory letter on 144,886? If not, is someone out there willing to use up one of their free searches to run this one? It is worth finding out if it was ever returned to the factory or not, as it could explain a blued hammer and lever at a time when only case coloured levers and hammers were presumably available.
March 23, 2007
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I reviewed the paperwork for the rifle tonight. I do not have a CFM letter but do have a serial number request form from Cody. Here’s what it states:
Type: rifle
Caliber: 33
Barrel: round
Trigger: plain
Sights: Lyman front and Lyman receiver sight
Magazine: full
Butt: shotgun butt rubber
Remarks: WO#329755
takedown
The magazine on the rifle does not extend to the end of the barrel. It protrudes about 3" beyond the fore end cap.
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