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I finely ponied up to buy a really nice Model 1886. Without the slightest reservation or apology the gun is in factory new/100% condition with a SN 759XX. There is nothing special about the rifle according to the Cody Firearms Records Office other than the condition. The thing that sold me is the Case Coloring that knocks you eyes out. It is multi colored and vivid. Like the day it left the warehouse in 1883. Never seen such bright coloring and have been doing this for 30 years.
So that is the back story. And now the question is how do I care for and preserve this rifle? I am almost afraid to touch it even though I have all the right screwdrivers, Etc. I am thinking-cleaning without any disassembly. Your thoughts…?
Cheers
Kirk
Use Renaissance Wax. And don’t clean ANYTHING!!!
Also, let’s see photographs of your recent acquisition. Also, it almost sounds too good to be true. Not to say there isn’t 100% stuff out there that is factory original–’cause there is–BUT this scares me as of late. Lots of really good craftsmen out there pasing off expert restorations as factory original. What is the provenance and the source?
Not to say yours isn’t legitimate–and it very well may be such–but I’d almost rather have a 90 or 95% gun than an absolutely perfect one, as the latter suggests expert restoration.
These comments aren’t meant to be critical but to provide insight. Having said that, it is probably only a matter of time before expert craftsmen restore to 100% and cause some wear in an attempt to fool folks such as I.
This is why I have curtailed my Winchester collecting bug as of late. Not that the Colt collecting field is any more “innocent”.
If the gun is in such mint condition, for one you would be a fool to put a screwdriver to it and risk damaging a screw or worst and second the insides don’t need to be cleaned. For care of the gun, I just wipe them down with a rag with snake oil or G96.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
If it is 100% factory new condition, what is there to clean?
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
I like G96 for the metal and a very light coating of snake oil on the wood once in a while. Keeps them protected and looking great.
I expect most of us like seeing photos of beautiful Winchesters, I know I do. I wish we saw more posted on this forum.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
As Henry Lee said at the OJ trial, “Something wrong here!”. Either the gun is not 100% mint or it is not original. Sorry to have to say but original 120 year old guns are never mint.
Thanks you for you thoughts as well as your advice. I am not offended by any honest doubt and caution. If I had read my original post I think my first thought would have been,” Ya right”.
Remember this is a plain Jane 1886 with no special features and it sat in the warehouse for seven months prior to shipping. Given the cost of a restoration from a reputable firm like Turnbull it would be far more costly that the final restored rifle would be worth. It is one beautiful rifle.
As far as providence it was purchased from a collector in Indiana.
Photos are attached.
Cheers
Kirk
Here are the photos that I did not do correctly in the above post.
Cheers
Kirk
They are around. A dealer offered me an 1886 (40-65 and a few years newer than yours) in about the same condition a few months ago.
I wished I would have bought it. 
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
Online
Kirk Fitzgerald said
Here are the photos that I did not do correctly in the above post.
Cheers
Kirk
Kirk Fitzgerald said
Here are the photos that I did not do correctly in the above post.
Cheers
Kirk
It’s hard to tell in the photo. Is the muzzle blued or in the white?
Don
Just a casual observation but the buttstock looks sanded, the barrel and magazine tube have been been re-blued and the case coloring is too strong for metal that is some 125 years old. I do agree with your assessment of the cost of a Trumbull restoration but I don’t believe that cost can ever be recouped from a restored gun.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
Kirk,
Unfortunately, I can say with certainty that none of the finish on this rifle is factory original.
Austin
I too do not believe that the finish is factory original. The case colors are not original Winchester finish, and the butt stock has definitely been sanded and refinished.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Agreed. Unfortunately, a completely refinished gun. I would look at some recent auctions of high-dollar Winchester 1886’s at James Julia and Rock Island Auction as for an idea as to what original refinishes should look like. Was this a recent purchase? If so, is there a chance you can return it and receive a refund of your money?
This picture shows where the buttstock has been sanded/rounded off at the wrist. Dead giveaway for me that things are not correct. To bad! Peter
I would have to add my agreement with the others …. it does appear to be completely restored for various reasons, one of which is the fit of the wood to the tang/rear receiver. Another is the case colouring …. very wrong colour mix for an original. There are other signs as well, but there is often a reluctance to publicly state what the issues are for fear of providing unscrupulous folks with a authenticity checklist when they restore antique Winchesters with the intention of selling them as originals. It might be best to PM one of the fellows on this thread (not me …. there are other men here who are more knowledgeable than I) to get a couple more specific issues that you can then present to the person who sold you the rifle in an effort to get your money back. Don’t accuse him of swindling you …. give him the benefit of the doubt, but mention the serious issues, where you got that info, and hopefully he will refund you.
Very good advise.
I have been down that road, and it took more than a polite request. It took dialogue and some hard facts as to why the sale was improper as to originality.
A collector or dealer is presumed to ” have the knowledge” to discern a ” helped” gun they are selling. Whether he knew it or not, he should take it back, or accommodate you in some fashion. There are steps beyond to take, but it gets messy, but doable. Neither you, and especially the seller do not want to go down that road.
Bill
April 26, 2015
Offline
This is my ’86 made in 1896, sn 107729, 45-70 cal, 26 in barrel. My photos are poor but give an accurate representation of its appearance. It doesn’t have the most vivid coloration that I’ve seen, nor is it “high condition”, but it’s not bad for a 120 year-old rifle. Although browned with age, the muzzle is white. To the original subject, it is my understanding they should be stored where not exposed to UV light. Therefore it resides in a dark vault except on those occasions when I get a “kick” out of shooting it.
A question about this “refinished rifle” in the condition that it is in now…I read somewhere, and have always believed, that the only way one gets the reds and oranges in case colors is with extreme heat. Winchester and others used to do it, but was told they lost a lot of parts in the process because they got warped/cracked/ruined by the high heat. Most times now, when something has been re-case hardened, they don’t show the reds and oranges because the gunsmith does not want to chance ruining the product. Just wonder how the OP’s example was cased to get that much red/orange color?? Agree, it doesn’t look like Winchester case, but the reds and oranges are certainly there. Is there another way this could have been done?
Peter
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