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Hello fellow Winchester enthusiasts;
I am hoping someone could tell me what makes an 1886 a “deluxe” model ? is it simply a high class pistol grip checkered stock or is there more to it than that , such as the case color hardening and set trigger.
Thank you for your response,
Ray Stark
Hello Ray,
The Model 1886 was catalogued as follows;
1. Sporting Rifle (Solid frame & Take Down). The Sporting Rifle was standard with a 26-inch octagon barrel, Full magazine, plain trigger, and a straight grip plain Walnut stock w/steel crescent butt plate.
2. Fancy Sporting Rifle “deluxe” (Solid frame & Take Down) was standard with a 26-inch octagon barrel, Full magazine, plain trigger, and a fancy Walnut checkered pistol grip stock w/steel crescent butt plate.
3. Carbine (Saddle Ring, Solid frame)
4. Extra Light Weight (ELW) Rifle (Solid frame & Take Down), 45-70, 22-inch round barrel, Full or Half magazine, plain trigger, Shotgun butt w/black hard rubber butt plate, and a plain Walnut straight grip stock. The ELW could be ordered with a Fancy checked pistol grip stock & forearm.
Color Case finish was standard for the Solid frame Sporting Rifles, Fancy Sporting Rifles, and Carbines until August 1901, then Blued thereafter. Take Down variations were Blued only, as were all ELWs. The Sporting Rifle, Fancy Sporting Rifle, and Carbine could be ordered with a Half magazine at no extra cost (optional order).
Set triggers were always a “special order” feature, regardless of specific variation.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I have an ELW with 2X checkered wood. Plan to sell it someday, but not just yet.
Shoot low boys. They're riding Shetland Ponies.
Thanks Bert,
Your information was exactly what I was looking for.
Ray Stark
Anyone ever seen a 86 deluxe with an original checkered straight grip stock ?
Bert H. said
Hello Ray,
The Model 1886 was catalogued as follows;
1. Sporting Rifle (Solid frame & Take Down). The Sporting Rifle was standard with a 26-inch octagon barrel, Full magazine, plain trigger, and a straight grip plain Walnut stock w/steel crescent butt plate.
2. Fancy Sporting Rifle “deluxe” (Solid frame & Take Down) was standard with a 26-inch octagon barrel, Full magazine, plain trigger, and a fancy Walnut checkered pistol grip stock w/steel crescent butt plate.
3. Carbine (Saddle Ring, Solid frame)
4. Extra Light Weight (ELW) Rifle (Solid frame & Take Down), 45-70, 22-inch round barrel, Full or Half magazine, plain trigger, Shotgun butt w/black hard rubber butt plate, and a plain Walnut straight grip stock. The ELW could be ordered with a Fancy checked pistol grip stock & forearm.
Color Case finish was standard for the Solid frame Sporting Rifles, Fancy Sporting Rifles, and Carbines until August 1901, then Blued thereafter. Take Down variations were Blued only, as were all ELWs. The Sporting Rifle, Fancy Sporting Rifle, and Carbine could be ordered with a Half magazine at no extra cost (optional order).
Set triggers were always a “special order” feature, regardless of specific variation.
Bert
Let’s not forget the .33 WCF. Given it did not come with an octagon barrel, and the standard barrel length was 24 inches vs. 26 inches, I do not see it as fitting any of the categories listed above.
The word “Deluxe” was not used by Winchester to describe a Fancy Sporting Rifle, it’s a modern collector term that has different meanings to different people.
If your question is, have you ever seen a 86 with an original checkered straight grip stock the answer is yes. Not that common but people did order them. Under extras in the 1887 catalog a “Fancy Walnut Stock and Fore-arm” was $4, if also “checked” $8, if also “Pistol-grip” $12 and if you wanted just “Checking Butt-Stock and Fore-arm” on plain wood $4. T/R
rick and I were discussing this today. I think the question is , can anyone provide information on a sporting rifle (not a extra lightweight as we have all seen those) that has a fancy checkered stock ( deluxe straight grip) and letters as such. Im looking for definitive proof confirmed by serial number and letter. hopefully we can get some people to tune in with an example or examples to see just how rare this variation is.
Jeremy Scott.
WACA LIFE MEMBER, CFM MEMBER, ABKA MEMBER, JSSC MEMBER, MNO HISTORIAN
Some folks say a Winchester has to have xx wood or better to be a deluxe. Now these are only My thoughts. I have owned several Winchesters over the years with 8, 9, and more extra order features and straight grain walnut, I call them “deluxe” guns, some call them semi-deluxe. I have seen Winchesters with 2 extra order features, like pistol grip and checkered stock, with xxx wood and they are called “deluxe”. So all I’m getting at is the term “deluxe” is up to the beholder. I read somewhere that back in the day some folks ordering high end Winchesters were sceptical of fine burl grained stocks, for fear of cracking or breaking so they would order their gun with the extra features they so desired and straight grain wood for durability kind of like this one.
I recently sold this piece, I call it a “deluxe “, 
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
JEREMY S. said
rick and I were discussing this today. I think the question is , can anyone provide information on a sporting rifle (not a extra lightweight as we have all seen those) that has a fancy checkered stock ( deluxe straight grip) and letters as such. Im looking for definitive proof confirmed by serial number and letter. hopefully we can get some people to tune in with an example or examples to see just how rare this variation is.
I’ve seen them. In fact, I have one:
As you can see from the museum letter, this rifle originally left the factory checkered. It’s not now, however there is the slightest vestige of checkering remaining – so you can tell it had been checkered as the letter specifies. When I purchased it, the owner (a dealer) claimed the rifle was returned to the factory to have the checkering removed. He claimed the return and repair specified in the letter was, “proof.” He asserted this was true because since nothing else was changed on the rifle, it had to be that. I liked the rifle so went ahead and bought the rifle and the story.
Henry Mero said
Some folks say a Winchester has to have xx wood or better to be a deluxe. Now these are only My thoughts. I have owned several Winchesters over the years with 8, 9, and more extra order features and straight grain walnut, I call them “deluxe” guns, some call them semi-deluxe. I have seen Winchesters with 2 extra order features, like pistol grip and checkered stock, with xxx wood and they are called “deluxe”. So all I’m getting at is the term “deluxe” is up to the beholder. I read somewhere that back in the day some folks ordering high end Winchesters were sceptical of fine burl grained stocks, for fear of cracking or breaking so they would order their gun with the extra features they so desired and straight grain wood for durability kind of like this one.
Any in 86 Henry?
Here’s an example of a fancy “deluxe” straight grip M1886. The straight grip rifles with checkered fancy wood are not common, but I think the seller (Austin) is correct, the ones without checkering are even more uncommon. Note that this one includes a museum letter. This is a very appealing rifle:
steve004 said
Here’s an example of a fancy “deluxe” straight grip M1886. The straight grip rifles with checkered fancy wood are not common, but I think the seller (Austin) is correct, the ones without checkering are even more uncommon. Note that this one includes a museum letter. This is a very appealing rifle:
The ad states “no refinishing has been done to the wood”. Why is the wood finish factory fresh (or better?) yet the steel seems to have an aged appearance? Can this be an accurate description?
NRA Life Member
WACA Member #12457
Bert H. said
Hello Ray,
The Model 1886 was catalogued as follows;
1. Sporting Rifle (Solid frame & Take Down). The Sporting Rifle was standard with a 26-inch octagon barrel, Full magazine, plain trigger, and a straight grip plain Walnut stock w/steel crescent butt plate.
2. Fancy Sporting Rifle “deluxe” (Solid frame & Take Down) was standard with a 26-inch octagon barrel, Full magazine, plain trigger, and a fancy Walnut checkered pistol grip stock w/steel crescent butt plate.
3. Carbine (Saddle Ring, Solid frame)
4. Extra Light Weight (ELW) Rifle (Solid frame & Take Down), 45-70, 22-inch round barrel, Full or Half magazine, plain trigger, Shotgun butt w/black hard rubber butt plate, and a plain Walnut straight grip stock. The ELW could be ordered with a Fancy checked pistol grip stock & forearm.
Color Case finish was standard for the Solid frame Sporting Rifles, Fancy Sporting Rifles, and Carbines until August 1901, then Blued thereafter. Take Down variations were Blued only, as were all ELWs. The Sporting Rifle, Fancy Sporting Rifle, and Carbine could be ordered with a Half magazine at no extra cost (optional order).
Set triggers were always a “special order” feature, regardless of specific variation.
Bert
With the only difference in the standard Sporting rifle & the Fancy Sporting rifle(deluxe) being fancy Walnut checkered pistol grip stock, was it always 3x wood?
RickC said
With the only difference in the standard Sporting rifle & the Fancy Sporting rifle(deluxe) being fancy Walnut checkered pistol grip stock, was it always 3x wood?
No it wasn’t. You really can’t tell the grade until you look at the tang and count the X’s. I have seen one to four X’s and sometimes when you compare guns a 2X might look nicer than a 3X. Maybe the grading was done to the blank before being cut, maybe the grading varied with supply, or maybe different graders. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder. T/R
Thanks T/R for your replies. So realistically you could order two Fancy sporting rifles & one could have 2x or 3x wood & the other 4x.
Orion Jim said
The ad states “no refinishing has been done to the wood”. Why is the wood finish factory fresh (or better?) yet the steel seems to have an aged appearance? Can this be an accurate description?
Actually Jim, I think this is one description that is very accurate. I am seeing wood finish condition far less than “better than factory fresh” and matches nicely with the metal. The bidding will reflect my opinion.
Darrin
Darrin Smith said
Actually Jim, I think this is one description that is very accurate. I am seeing wood finish condition far less than “better than factory fresh” and matches nicely with the metal. The bidding will reflect my opinion.
Darrin
If I still lived in the U.S, I would be bidding on it.
RickC
RickC said
Thanks T/R for your replies. So realistically you could order two Fancy sporting rifles & one could have 2x or 3x wood & the other 4x.
RickC,
I have had only one with 4X and one with 1X. My experience has been 2X is the most common. The wood grade listed on the letter is not common.
Just my opinion. T/R
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