1886 lightweight or extra light?|Page 2|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

cj57 said
Mine is called a special lightweight

  

I suspect that the terminology that was recorded in the ledger records varied depending on the specific person who recorded it (and there were at least 6 – 8 people recording information in the various ledger books).

Bert

oldcrankyyankee said

Bert H. said

mrcvs said

I have THREE 1886 Rifles which may or may not be considered extra lightweight, but using the letters, only one is listed as extra lightweight.  I think the criteria is it must have the shortest possible magazine, given the circumstances.

#1.  45-70, takedown, listed as 1/2 magazine, not the shortest possible, as it has the takedown feature, but letter states extra lightweight;

#2.  .33 Winchester, solid frame, does not list as extra lightweight, has 2/3 magazine, something that took 3 1/2 decades of ownership to realize despite stating that in the letter.  1/2 magazine can make this lighter.

#3.  .33 Winchester, solid frame, full magazine.  Lighter than the bulkier full magazine octagon barrel rifles, but still not lightest possible due to full magazine.  

All are round barreled rifles.

Ian,

I have stated this in previous topics… It is the barrel length that defines what is (or is not) an Extra Light Weight rifle, not the magazine length.  All of the Model 1886 ELW rifles have a 22-inch barrel.  The 33 WCF rifles were standard with a 24-inch barrel and therefore are not “ELW” or “lightweight” rifles.

Bert

  

And don’t forget the hollowed out but stock either. 

And let’s not forget that a few were made with half rounds and some had full mags.

Correct, and that is why it is the 22-inch barrel length that defines an ELW.  ELW rifles were manufactured with 2/3 and full length magazines, and with rifle (crescent) butts, but always with a 22-inch barrel.

Bert