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Typical looking 86. Says it’s a .45-70 but stamped on the barrel flat on the left side is ‘smooth bore’ Doesn’t look like anything Winchester would do. I’ve never seen a line gun, so don’t know anything about them other than they were used on ships. This one is #73912. Oct bbl, straight grip, plain wood, full mag, looks to be a 26″ bbl. What say you? If nothing else, it’s here for the survey.
Shoot low boys. They're riding Shetland Ponies.
Same place has a plain jane 1895 in .30-06 #402735 Redfield rear sight.
Shoot low boys. They're riding Shetland Ponies.
Old Logger said
Typical looking 86. Says it’s a .45-70 but stamped on the barrel flat on the left side is ‘smooth bore’ Doesn’t look like anything Winchester would do. I’ve never seen a line gun, so don’t know anything about them other than they were used on ships. This one is #73912. Oct bbl, straight grip, plain wood, full mag, looks to be a 26″ bbl. What say you? If nothing else, it’s here for the survey.
It is not a Line Gun. All of them were in the 153830 – 154942 serial number range and were equipped with a 14-inch round barrel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I wonder why someone would make a smooth bore out of it.
Shoot low boys. They're riding Shetland Ponies.
Where’s are these two rifles at?
Nearly 40 years ago I had an ’86 .45-70 smooth bore rifle. It was an extralightweight, 22 inch barrel, pistol-grip checkered, long Lyman receiver sight and was definitely a special order rifle as there was no dovetail for rear sight seat. Which, means the Lyman long receiver sight was mounted at time of manufacture. The bore diameter at the the muzzle was .451 so it definitely had not been bored out and made into a smooth bore. There were two possibilities – the rifle was original, or a smoothbore liner had been installed. There were no, “smoothbore” markings or any markings anywhere to indicate it was as anything but a .45-70 rifle. It had standard .45-70 barrel markings.
Sadly, the serial number range was not within the letterable range. Who would have ordered a smoothbore ’86 with a no rear sight seat and the Lyman long range sight?! I recall the rifle was around 95% if not 98% original finish. This makes sense – how would a rifle like that received much use? It was a very impractical rifle. It was striking as far as condition, but the smoothbore novelty/conversation piece aspect lasted only a short time for me. Particularly without a factory letter, the rifle required an explanation – yet there was no explanation. I managed to sell it for what I had into it and figured I came out ahead as I learned a lesson.
Old Logger said
I wonder why someone would make a smooth bore out of it.
Madis says in “The Winchester Book” that some rifles with shot out bores were either re-barreled or bored out to smoothbore. Possibly what happened here. Isn’t a .45-70 shot shell about the same as a .410″?
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
If I recall, they made shot cartridges for most every M1873/1892 and M1886 cartridge. However, having said that, I can’t recall seeing .25/20 shot cartridges. Maybe because it came later?
steve004 said
If I recall, they made shot cartridges for most every M1873/1892 and M1886 cartridge. However, having said that, I can’t recall seeing .25/20 shot cartridges. Maybe because it came later?
It has sights. It is already bid up to 750, and the condition is nothing to get excited about. If Winchester did the boring and it could be documented, maybe it would be worth it.
Bill Hockett said
Madis says in “The Winchester Book” that some rifles with shot out bores were either re-barreled or bored out to smoothbore. Possibly what happened here. Isn’t a .45-70 shot shell about the same as a .410″?
Shoot low boys. They're riding Shetland Ponies.
Here’s a .50 Express M1886 that Morphy sold in 2017. Similar to the one I had, it wasn’t hunted hard:
Is this in the letterable range?
Shoot low boys. They're riding Shetland Ponies.
steve004 said
Here’s a .50 Express M1886 that Morphy sold in 2017. Similar to the one I had, it wasn’t hunted hard:
What a beauty that is too!
James
Old Logger said
Is this in the letterable range?
The one you are looking at is. The .50 caliber one Morphy had – was not.
steve004 said
The one you are looking at is. The .50 caliber one Morphy had – was not.
Maybe someone that has some free searches still available would look it up.
Shoot low boys. They're riding Shetland Ponies.
Bill Hockett said
Isn’t a .45-70 shot shell about the same as a .410″?
The shorter 410’s can be shot in some 45 caliber guns and some 44 WCF. Never tried to cycle a 410 through a lever gun. The round can’t be any longer than the longest cartridge for the Model.
It’s a nice looking 86 and is sitting at $750 plus 17.5% buyer premium. I wish I knew more about these smooth bores. I emailed the auctioneer asking for a measurement of the bore at the muzzle with no response. I have bought firearms from him in the past with mixed results. They really don’t now much about the old collectible ones.
Shoot low boys. They're riding Shetland Ponies.
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