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This sold eight years ago. Maybe someone here was the winner? Anyway, I found the special order features interesting. For me, the stock dimensions (and the recoil pad) are of greatest interest. There is reference to a museum letter and unfortunately, the one feature not mentioned in the letter is the stock dimensions. My question to the rest of you: would you accept the stock is original? How much of a detraction is it that the dimensions are not mentioned in the letter?
steve004 said
My question to the rest of you: would you accept the stock is original? How much of a detraction is it that the dimensions are not mentioned in the letter?
I would accept it as the original stock. I would reckon most examples with custom made stocks like this one won’t letter. For me it doesn’t detract at all, in fact it makes all that much rarer of a feature.
The only thing that may be a distraction, would be actually shooting it. If it was uncomfortable for me to shoot, I’d make a custom temporary stock to swap it out with. Or just simply not shoot it and admire it for what it is. It shows what great lengths Winchester went to please their customers.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
In looking at the limited photos I would agree with Maverick that it is likely the original stock. The wood and wear appear to match the rest of the rifle from what can be seen. And that old rubber buttplate looks to have a lot of use or broke down over the years supporting the weight of the rifle. However, the few that Ive read about oftentimes letter with the mention of the amount of drop (ex. 2 1/2 inches) or extra length of stock (ex. 1/2 inch), so on and so forth. Id have to have a longer neck and taller head to sight down the top of the barrel that one 
.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
steve004 said
This sold eight years ago. Maybe someone here was the winner? Anyway, I found the special order features interesting. For me, the stock dimensions (and the recoil pad) are of greatest interest. There is reference to a museum letter and unfortunately, the one feature not mentioned in the letter is the stock dimensions. My question to the rest of you: would you accept the stock is original? How much of a detraction is it that the dimensions are not mentioned in the letter?
I think this old 86 is absolutely as it came from Winchester. As Chris stated and in my experience, when stock dimensions are special ordered it is generally noted in the ledger. As an example, I have attached a letter for an 86 of mine with special stock dimensions and which are noted in the ledger. I have also attached a copy of the ledger file for the gun so you can see how little room there was to note features and the way notes about the gun were scribbled into a small space. I would like to see the ledger entry for this gun – I bet it is full. The employee who put the notes in the ledger may have just forget to include the special dimensions or there may not have been room. Sometimes you just have to look at the gun and make a judgement call and from what I am seeing in the photos, which are not the best, the gun appears to be original and correct. And, very strange looking at that!
It is also my feeling that the stock on this rifle is original. By the way, I would love to shoulder it and see how it fits me. I was curious about other’s impression and if they would hold the fact that the stock is not mentioned in the letter, against it. We all know about the undesirability of having to make excuses when something, “doesn’t letter.” When it comes time to sell, reactions like, “nice gun – too bad it doesn’t letter” or “it would be worth twice a much if it lettered.” In these situations, the owner’s opinion that it is correct, is meaningless.
Or, in these present times, “I was looking for something with a fiberglass stock and brushed stainless finish” 
Burt – wonderful rifle and letter. Too bad all letters can’t have that much detail. Of course, very few rifles need it.
By the way, this prompts me to remember a Winchester M1886 that sold several years ago. I believe it was from one of the larger auction houses. It had the most unusual stock I had ever seen on a lever action rifle. It was special ordered and it was bent way around. I’ll say nearly in half – but it wasn’t that dramatic. Still, it was very unusual. Special ordered for someone with a substantial handicap. It served as an amazing example of what Winchester would do for a customer back then. Does this rifle ring a bell with anyone?
Here’s one with a special order stock (that letters). Other very cool special order features too (that letter). This is a nice rifle!
You probably refer to a firearm that is designed to align with a dominant eye that is the reverse of the dominant hand. I seem to recall one like this.
steve004 said
I was curious about other’s impression and if they would hold the fact that the stock is not mentioned in the letter, against it. We all know about the undesirability of having to make excuses when something, “doesn’t letter.” When it comes time to sell, reactions like, “nice gun – too bad it doesn’t letter” or “it would be worth twice a much if it lettered.” In these situations, the owner’s opinion that it is correct, is meaningless.
I think that is the crutch that some collectors find themselves standing on when they discount a gun like this. Those one or two options not listed tend to outweigh all the others that are, and the letter then becomes the 80 ton gorilla in the room, even though the gun could survive scrutiny on its individual qualities and merits.
But each of us have our own way of gauging what we prefer to have in supporting of the qualities or configurations of the guns we buy and cautiously act upon or take them into consideration.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
steve004 said
By the way, this prompts me to remember a Winchester M1886 that sold several years ago. I believe it was from one of the larger auction houses. It had the most unusual stock I had ever seen on a lever action rifle. It was special ordered and it was bent way around. I’ll say nearly in half – but it wasn’t that dramatic. Still, it was very unusual. Special ordered for someone with a substantial handicap. It served as an amazing example of what Winchester would do for a customer back then. Does this rifle ring a bell with anyone?
Steve,
I believe that 1886 was sold at RIA a few years back and now resides in the collection of one of the top posters on this forum. I think he has an 1892 rifle and an 1887 shotgun in the same cast-off stock configuration made for a right-handed, left-eyed shooter (or the opposite). Pretty amazing and one-of-a-kind pieces.
deerhunter said
steve004 said
By the way, this prompts me to remember a Winchester M1886 that sold several years ago. I believe it was from one of the larger auction houses. It had the most unusual stock I had ever seen on a lever action rifle. It was special ordered and it was bent way around. I’ll say nearly in half – but it wasn’t that dramatic. Still, it was very unusual. Special ordered for someone with a substantial handicap. It served as an amazing example of what Winchester would do for a customer back then. Does this rifle ring a bell with anyone?Steve,
I believe that 1886 was sold at RIA a few years back and now resides in the collection of one of the top posters on this forum. I think he has an 1892 rifle and an 1887 shotgun in the same cast-off stock configuration made for a right-handed, left-eyed shooter (or the opposite). Pretty amazing and one-of-a-kind pieces.
Very cool. I know I have seen a Winchester M1887 for sale with that same style stock. I suspect it is the same one.
Check out this post (photos toward the end).
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/Interesting+1892/
Here’s one of my model 1894’s with a special stock dimension mentioned in the letter, Al
deerhunter said
Check out this post (photos toward the end).https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/Interesting+1892/
Thank you. I missed that thread over six years ago. Very interesting. In a way, the ’92 and ’87 appear sort of freakish. It’s like they melted and got bent. Tremendous collectibles however. I’ve always been attracted to odd stuff – so right up my alley.
How the younger generation can find appeal with all those plastic guns with zero character is beyond me.
tionesta1 said
Here’s one of my model 1894’s with a special stock dimension mentioned in the letter, Al
That’s an awesome 1894 short rifle Al.
steve004 said
How the younger generation can find appeal with all those plastic guns with zero character is beyond me.
I whole-heartedly agree with you. Each and every old Winchester is a work of art in my opinion. I’m a “youngster” at 48 and don’t own any black plastic guns.
Don
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