Model 1886 ELW, antique, .45-70 very special rifle|Page 3|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

Burt Humphrey said

  

Jeremy – that 86 is #109591 – it was shipped with 2 other 86’s, serial 109592 and serial 109587 – all 3 guns were configured exactly the same, shipped  to the same order number on the same day and all 3 guns were R&R 2 different times on the same dates. Serial #109592, the gun subsequent to mine just has ditto marks in the ledger.The 3 guns must have belonged to the same family – they were obviously special order guns. I would sure like to find one or both of the other guns.

  

Wow what a beautiful config….I love a matted barrel…have yet to see one in person.

Blueliner said
Jeremy, I was just thinking the same thing about Burt’s ‘86 before I read your post.I look forward to seeing your rifle(s) someday, and maybe even an opportunity……

Bill

  

Hey Bill, Here is a neat one to hold ya off…  I will get some good pictures done. 

steve004 said

Burt Humphrey said

Jeremy Scott. said

Burt Humphrey said

steve004 said

I’m not surprised that eight customers had enough influence to convince Winchester to produce case colored takedown M1886 for them.  After all, all of these eight rifles were made during the period that Winchester was producing case hardened M1886 solid frame rifles.  I would be a lot more surprised if any of these rifles were manufactured after 1901.

I also note that the letter for the rifle Jeremy has indicates it is more of a special order rifle than just the c/h aspect.

  

Special for sure. Many of us are fans of the checkered and case hardened 86. And, I have certainly never seen one in take down configuration. Is this information noted in the Madl book? Jeremy, would it be possible for you to post some photos of your 86?

  

Hi Burt, That information is not in the madl book I have. The specific rifle in question is not currently in my collection. That said I do have plenty of fancy case hardened 1886 I will have to share one day. It is my favorite model and I spend a lot of time having fun researching them. That is a wonderful 1886 you posted a picture off !   

  

Jeremy – that 86 is #109591 – it was shipped with 2 other 86’s, serial 109592 and serial 109587 – all 3 guns were configured exactly the same, shipped  to the same order number on the same day and all 3 guns were R&R 2 different times on the same dates. Serial #109592, the gun subsequent to mine just has ditto marks in the ledger.The 3 guns must have belonged to the same family – they were obviously special order guns. I would sure like to find one or both of the other guns.

  

Burt – Is it interesting that the other two rifles, of this identical configuration, haven’t shown up.  With all the contacts through here, I would think someone would have seen one of them somewhere?  I sure wonder what kind of condition they are in now.

  

Steve – I am counting on you and others to keep your eyes open – they must be tucked away in collections somewhere. I have had my gun for about 35 years but for a long time (until I got a copy of the ledger) I did not think about the “shipped with 2 other arms” note in the museum letter. Then, when I got a copy of the ledger page and started looking at it in detail I noticed the 2 other guns shipped to the same order were all configured exactly the same. You have been around a long time so you probably remember a guy named Bill Evans from Townsend, Montana – he had an antique business and a lot of great guns went thru his hands in the 70’s and 80’s. The gun was in his collection for a long time (I did not ask and he did not say where he acquired it). I first saw the gun in about 1988 (was not for sale) when I attended a gun show in Billings, Montana with Tommy Rholes – the gun was on display. I told Bill I would like a shot at it if he were ever to sell it. A couple of years later he called me and said he was trying to put together a deal on a fantastic Sharps with Montana history and needed to raise some cash – I bought it. My gun show days are over so my chances of finding one or both are probably slim. If one or both were to surface I would have a keen interest but would not absolutely need to own them – just knowing their location, condition and ownersip history would mean a lot to me.