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Early 1886 - What Have I Got
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July 18, 2020 - 4:54 pm
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Apologies if this a repost.

I have an 1886 in 40-82.  This is a low four digit serial number gun with the button to hold the lever up mounted on the side of the lever.  The curiosity here is that the barrel is marked with the King’s Patent Improvement.  A gunsmith friend and I dismantled it completely soon after I acquired it over 20 years ago.  We both feel that the rifle had never been taken apart and worked on.  It’s in very nice condition with a great bore.

Has anyone ever encountered an 86 with this kind of barrel marking?  Our thinking is that Winchester known for not wasting anything used a 40 caliber 1876 barrel on the rifle given that 76 production ceased for a few years when the 86 was introduced.

Thought?

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July 18, 2020 - 5:28 pm
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Bpcrnut said
Apologies if this a repost.

I have an 1886 in 40-82.  This is a low four digit serial number gun with the button to hold the lever up mounted on the side of the lever.  The curiosity here is that the barrel is marked with the King’s Patent Improvement.  A gunsmith friend and I dismantled it completely soon after I acquired it over 20 years ago.  We both feel that the rifle had never been taken apart and worked on.  It’s in very nice condition with a great bore.

Has anyone ever encountered an 86 with this kind of barrel marking?  Our thinking is that Winchester known for not wasting anything used a 40 caliber 1876 barrel on the rifle given that 76 production ceased for a few years when the 86 was introduced.

Thought?  

I suspect that you have a Frankenchester.  Winchester to the best of my knowledge, did not ever mount anything on the side of the lever (for any purpose).  Further, I have not ever encountered a Model 1886 with a Model 1876 barrel on it (at least not one that was factory original).  It is not true that the Model 1876 production ceased when the superior John M. Browning Model 1886 was added to the Winchester line-up.  Production did rapidly slow down, but it continued up to the year 1898.

Bert

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July 18, 2020 - 5:42 pm
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 Bert, the first model 1886’s have the lever button on the side, later it was moved to the front of the lever. T/R

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July 18, 2020 - 8:29 pm
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TR said
 Bert, the first model 1886’s have the lever button on the side, later it was moved to the front of the lever. T/R  

TR, do you know where there is a picture of this?  Only had a couple of 86’s and none this early.  Looked at John Madl’s book but still confused??

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July 18, 2020 - 10:56 pm
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Here is a picture from my cutaway.

Bob

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July 18, 2020 - 10:58 pm
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Chuck, Madias book page 315, depends on  which addition which page. T/R

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July 19, 2020 - 3:00 am
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If you could see the right side is there something to look at?

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July 19, 2020 - 3:49 am
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There is nothing to do with the lever button on the right side at least on mine. The button is held in with a pin that goes through the back side into the slot of the lever where I marked.

Bob

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July 19, 2020 - 4:17 pm
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1873man said
There is nothing to do with the lever button on the right side at least on mine. The button is held in with a pin that goes through the back side into the slot of the lever where I marked.

Bob

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OK but I am still confused.  Is there something visible anywhere when the lever is closed that makes this design standout or is it just an internal thing?

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July 19, 2020 - 4:29 pm
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  Bpcrnut, I would suggest you post good pictures including caliber markings, barrel marking, upper tang, and lower tang. Look closely at the barrel for wench marks, Winchester did not leave any. If you are capable, remove the tube and forearm, look for extra dove tails in the barrel, caliber markings on the bottom of the barrel, or any signs it’s been on a different model.  It has been said that Winchester did not throw away good parts but neither did Bubba the so called gun smith. Bubba could have shortened the barrel on either end. T/R

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July 19, 2020 - 5:24 pm
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Chuck said

OK but I am still confused.  Is there something visible anywhere when the lever is closed that makes this design standout or is it just an internal thing?  

There is nothing visible when the lever is closed with the factory latch.

I don’t know if the OP has something different than the factory latches so pictures would be in order.

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