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clarence said
But there were many weekly publications devoted to hunting & fishing, such as Forest & Stream (estab. 1873), Rod & Gun, Shooting & Fishing, American Field, etc. The “Wild West” was a subject of great interest to people in the East, & folks interested in western hunting trips could inform themselves of conditions without great difficulty.
It’s really not important. This rifle doesn’t need a story to have appeal. Plus, it’s not purported to have actually gone buffalo hunting anyway.
Henry said
He must have been a big man to think He was going to carry that thing all day. It must weigh near 20 lbs. Beautiful and unique piece, keep it safe
Serial # 51307, is pictured in the Winchester Book and noted as being “a shade under fourteen pounds”. It has a straight grip stock. Another one, serial #125199 is also in the Madis book – it has the PG stock. Both guns in the Madis book have double barrel bands as does the gun shown in this post – neither of the guns in the Madis book note the caliber. There is a third one in the Madis Book, no caliber noted, which has a 36″ barrel with a rapid taper design which the book says weighs close to 10 pounds – it is noted as also having the double barrel bands. Very rare gun indeed – I have never held one – just seen photos. I too would like to see some more good photos of the gun in this post.
Henry said
He must have been a big man to think He was going to carry that thing all day. It must weigh near 20 lbs. Beautiful and unique piece, keep it safe
Yep, I have a 1885 with a #3 30″ barrel and that is front heavy, can’t imagine how front heavy this 1886 must be. A very special Winchester for sure.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
Kevin Jones said
Yep, I have a 1885 with a #3 30″ barrel and that is front heavy, can’t imagine how front heavy this 1886 must be. A very special Winchester for sure.
And imagine how heavy it is with .45-90 cartridges filled from one end of the magazine tube to the other. I wonder if that has ever happened with this rifle?
steve004 said
And imagine how heavy it is with .45-90 cartridges filled from one end of the magazine tube to the other. I wonder if that has ever happened with this rifle?
Good point, I hadn’t even considered the cartridges, 45-90s have a little heft to them.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
Here are a few more, kinda having trouble uploading them. I’ll try to take some with an actual camera instead of old phone photos.
Thanks for posting the additional photos. Interesting. There was no consistent pattern with which Winchester ascribed barrels as “heavy” and, “extra heavy.”
Frederick Cox said
I bet you’d think it was extra heavy after carrying it for a day.
Oh, I am sure you’re right. Particularly if it was filled with cartridges. I was just making reference to the fact that some “extra heavy barrels” are even larger than the barrel on your rifle.
Frederick, everything about your rifle is spectacular. A wonderful family heirloom. Just proves the fact that there are still some great closet guns out there.
It is my opinion that on a letter heavy or extra heavy describe the same barrel weight in general, it’s just how many words the clerk wrote in the ledger. In the catalogues during the period of these early 86’s they only listed extra heavy. The only statement in the catalogue was, “Extra heavy barrels on Repeating Rifles, round or octagon, increasing the weight of the gun from one to two pounds, can be furnished at an additional cost of $4.00.” That said, some barrels were made so large that they were larger than the receivers. Some of these guns lettered by the pound like a Sharps, others didn’t. The actual weight of these barrels depended on size, length, and bore size. Winchester’s that letter by the pound or are so large that they over shadow the receiver were in my opinion made to a customers spec. not a normal extra.
Thank you Frederick for sharing the pictures of such a rare and beautiful heavy barrel gun. T/R
Great looking rifle there Frederick. Those extra long and extra heavy barrel rifles are super nice and one of my favorites.
I came across an 1886 at the Texas Gun Collectors Show last month that was a deluxe, H-checked pistol grip, plain trigger, with 34″ octagon barrel (56135). Cant remember if it was a 45-70 or 45-90 at the moment. The old boy also had an 1894 with button magazine and 30″ octagon barrel in 38-55, what an oddball looking gun. Would venture to guess there arent many of those out there. Had he scaled the price back considerably I would have been willing to take the 1894 home. I needed mailbox money to even begin to consider the price tag on the 1886.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
1892takedown said
Great looking rifle there Frederick. Those extra long and extra heavy barrel rifles are super nice and one of my favorites.I came across an 1886 at the Texas Gun Collectors Show last month that was a deluxe, H-checked pistol grip, plain trigger, with 34″ octagon barrel (56135). Cant remember if it was a 45-70 or 45-90 at the moment. The old boy also had an 1894 with button magazine and 30″ octagon barrel in 38-55, what an oddball looking gun. Would venture to guess there arent many of those out there. Had he scaled the price back considerably I would have been willing to take the 1894 home. I needed mailbox money to even begin to consider the price tag on the 1886.
That ’86 you ran into sure sounds appealing. We know there were less 34 inch barrels made than 36 inch barrels.
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