Log In
September 22, 2011
Offline
Recent discussion of smoothbore Winchester 1886 rifles causes me to recall an 1886 Winchester rifle I noted for sale during the summer of 1992. I seem to recall it was an extra lightweight rifle, takedown, in a case, 2 barrel set, one set being .45 70, rifled; the other being .45 70 smoothbore. I believe the price was $10,000 at the time, which precluded proper examination of the aforementioned, as, at the time, $500 was a princely sum for me. Given that these were my observations nearly a quarter century ago, any and all of the description above could be faded due to time, other than I distinctly remember the .45 70 smoothies part. Is this a possible configuration as described above, or is it an impossibility and/or a modern recreation/deception/tomfoolery? As I dabble in firearms more and more, I often suspect outright fakery more often than original & rare.
March 19, 2014
Offline
Who knows? The only Winchester smoothbore rifles I have read of were made for aerial shooting for the wild west shows in the late 1800’s. Others may know more on the subject.
April 2, 2009
Offline
April 15, 2005
Offline
There were a fair number of Model 1885 Single Shot rifles that letter with smoothbore barrels… I doubt that they were used for aerial exhibition shooting.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
