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April 15, 2005
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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
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
February 17, 2022
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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. 
April 15, 2005
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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
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
April 9, 2026
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I have a special order 1886 with a 26″ barrel that letters as a lightweight. Burt, back in 2019 we had some email communication about this rifle. These are your comments “I have not seen an ELW Rifle with a 26-inch barrel until today. All of them I have encountered thus far have had a 22-inch barrel. In addition to the extra long extra lightweight barrel, the plain PG stock without any checkering is somewhat uncommon, and the sight configuration is quite unusual as well (I would have expected a Lyman tang sight with the Lyman No. 6 rear sight and the Lyman No. 4 front sight). Somebody specifically special ordered the Marbles Flexible Joint tang sight.”
WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 – SERIAL NUMBER 13910X
Serial number application date not available
Type: Rifle
Caliber: 40/65
Barrel Type: Round
Barrel Length: 26 inches
Extra Light
Trigger: Plain
Plain, Pistol grip
Sights: Marbles flex joint rear, Lyman leaf, Lyman hunting front sights
1/2 Magazine
Shotgun butt rubber
Received in warehouse on October 07, 1907
Shipped from warehouse on October 09, 1907, Order number 113329
FYI, This is my first post. Long time Winchester collector. Presently a “Guest”, will join when my Cody membership is up for renewal.
February 17, 2022
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I would suggest that it maybe referring to the barrel profile. Winchester did use a barrel called a rapid taper. Standard round barrels had a very slight taper to the muzzle, appox .002″ per inch. The rapid taper was .005″ per inch, same as barrels 32″ and longer. I would measure the dia. at muzzle than breach and see. I have a 45-90 with the rapid taper, thru me for a loop until I learned about the rapid taper barrels.
April 15, 2005
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ken1989 said
I have a special order 1886 with a 26″ barrel that letters as a lightweight. Burt, back in 2019 we had some email communication about this rifle. These are your comments “I have not seen an ELW Rifle with a 26-inch barrel until today. All of them I have encountered thus far have had a 22-inch barrel. In addition to the extra long extra lightweight barrel, the plain PG stock without any checkering is somewhat uncommon, and the sight configuration is quite unusual as well (I would have expected a Lyman tang sight with the Lyman No. 6 rear sight and the Lyman No. 4 front sight). Somebody specifically special ordered the Marbles Flexible Joint tang sight.”
WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 – SERIAL NUMBER 13910X
Serial number application date not available
Type: Rifle
Caliber: 40/65
Barrel Type: Round
Barrel Length: 26 inches
Extra Light
Trigger: Plain
Plain, Pistol grip
Sights: Marbles flex joint rear, Lyman leaf, Lyman hunting front sights
1/2 Magazine
Shotgun butt rubber
Received in warehouse on October 07, 1907
Shipped from warehouse on October 09, 1907, Order number 113329
FYI, This is my first post. Long time Winchester collector. Presently a “Guest”, will join when my Cody membership is up for renewal.
What you have is a special-ordered rifle with a barrel that is lighter than standard. In the strictest sense, it is not a true ELW.
Based on the factory ledger record information, it apparently does not have Nickel Steel (smokeless powder) barrel. How is the front sight attached to the barrel? Does it have large bored hole in the butt stock?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 9, 2008
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Ken,
That sounds like a cool gun! Another tell tail sign of being a lightweight is a ramp front sight, please post some photos of this gem!
April 9, 2026
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I have a few extra light weights in my collection.
The stock does have large hole as do my other extra light weights
Front sight is soldered onto barrel.
Does not have a nickel steel (smokeless) barrel.
Need to figure out how to post photos here, probably need a subscription.
April 15, 2005
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ken1989 said
I have a few extra light weights in my collection.
The stock does have large hole as do my other extra light weights
Front sight is soldered onto barrel.
Does not have a nickel steel (smokeless) barrel.
Need to figure out how to post photos here, probably need a subscription.
If you send the pictures to me in an email, I will post them for you.
Bert – [email protected]
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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