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September 22, 2011
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This one sure looks refinished to me.
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Who wants to inform the seller he needs to divide his asking price by 30?
For starters, a rifle in such “high” condition would be unlikely to have suffered such abuse to the wood both sides of the wrist.
October 29, 2011
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Looks like a Turnbill CH, but the wood??
October 14, 2024
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Lots of varnish
May 14, 2025
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mrcvs said
This one sure looks refinished to me.
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https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/winchester-rifles-model-1886/winchester-model-1886-40-82-wcf.cfm?gun_id=103619660
Who wants to inform the seller he needs to divide his asking price by 30?
For starters, a rifle in such “high” condition would be unlikely to have suffered such abuse to the wood both sides of the wrist.
We just had a post about inflated prices on eBay, guess we need to start one on GI too. Even I wouldn’t have been fooled by this one. To be fair he didn’t price it wrong. He just priced it 100 years too soon 😀
September 22, 2011
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kevindpm61 said
Lots of varnish
Probably. Unless the seller applied something to make it glossy that wipes off, although this seems unlikely.
October 29, 2011
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Sent: Sunday, May 24, 2026 6:17:18 AM
To: Accounts <[email protected]>
Subject: An inquiry regarding your GunsInternational.com listing #103619660
Name: william stratton
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: (575) 779-2188
Question/Message:
This rifle was redone–poorly I might add. Price would best be under 4000.00 IMHO
GI#: 103619660
SKU#: 409540
Title: Winchester Model 1886 40-82 WCF
Description: Manufactured in 1894, this Winchester Model 1886 is an exceptional and remarkably fresh example of one of the most important lever action rifles of the American frontier. Designed by the legendary John Moses Browning, the Model 1886 represented a major advancement over Winchester’s earlier toggle-link rifles, introducing the immensely strong locking-block action capable of handling the era’s powerful big bore cartridges. Chambered for the hard-hitting .40-82 W.C.F., the Model 1886 quickly earned a reputation for strength, reliability, and rapid repeating firepower, becoming one of the definitive “express” rifles of the late 19th century. Its robust design also allowed it to transition seamlessly into the smokeless powder era, securing production longevity through 1935 and cementing its legacy among the most respected Winchester lever actions ever produced.
Factory records confirm this rifle was received at the warehouse on March 30, 1894, and shipped the following day in order number 11475. The letter lists the rifle in .40-82 caliber with an octagon barrel and plain trigger. Retaining the highly desirable casehardened frame standard to early production rifles, this example easily ranks among the finest surviving standard configuration antique Model 1886 rifles encountered today. The barrel bears the correct two-line Winchester address and “40-82 W.C.F.” caliber marking at the breech, while the upper tang carries the model designation and the lower tang displays the patent dates and serial number.
The rifle is fitted with desirable sporting sights consisting of a No. 21 German silver blade front and elevation adjustable No. 22 rear sight. It is mounted with an attractive smooth walnut forearm and straight grip stock showing handsome wavy grain, paired with a smooth steel crescent buttplate. Standard configuration Model 1886 rifles in this level of condition are extraordinarily difficult to find today, as the vast majority saw decades of hard frontier use. This rifle stands as a superb representation of Winchester’s golden age and one of the finest surviving examples of Browning’s iconic big-frame lever action design.
Condition:
Excellent plus. The barrel and magazine tube retain 97% plus of the original blue finish overall with a few handing marks. The breech bolt retains 98% plus of the bright original blue finish. 98% of the bright original nitre blue remains on the loading gate. The receiver retains 98% plus of the stunning, vibrant original case colors. The forend cap, hammer, lever, and buttplate retain 95% original case colors. The wood is also excellent with some minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Price: $89,999.99
GunsInternational.com Message: We want potential buyers visiting GunsInternational.com to feel free to share their email addresses with those listing firearms and gun related items for sale on our website. By accessing this website, you agree not to use information concerning other users of GunsInternational.com, or the firearms or gun related items they have listed or searched for on this website (including listing information, user names, email addresses, telephone numbers, and/or other information), for any purpose other than to explore the potential purchase or sale of a listed firearm or gun related item.
October 29, 2011
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I guess we should let Colby sell our guns–Bill
November 7, 2015
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mrcvs said
kevindpm61 said
Lots of varnish
Probably. Unless the seller applied something to make it glossy that wipes off, although this seems unlikely.
Snake oil or something similar is my guess. Pics of the stampings are conspicuously absent and what we can see of wood to metal finish seems good. Colors are too bright for me but it keeps coming back to the wood not matching the metal. 3 day return with a 25% restocking fee. Yep, that’s right, $22,500. Seems we’ve discussed one of his other listings recently. Remarks about multiple expert appraisals and a sale by RIA raise a red flag or two. Glad I don’t play in that ballpark.
Mike
April 15, 2005
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426crown said
I guess we should let Colby sell our guns–Bill
Only if you want them to sit in his shop until your grandchildren are old & gray.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 19, 2006
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I had also wondered if something like Snake Oil had been wiped all over it – but that still wouldn’t explain the use on the wood not matching up with the metal. And yes, we have discussed some of this seller’s offerings before.
September 22, 2011
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TXGunNut said
mrcvs said
kevindpm61 said
Lots of varnish
Probably. Unless the seller applied something to make it glossy that wipes off, although this seems unlikely.
Snake oil or something similar is my guess. Pics of the stampings are conspicuously absent and what we can see of wood to metal finish seems good. Colors are too bright for me but it keeps coming back to the wood not matching the metal. 3 day return with a 25% restocking fee. Yep, that’s right, $22,500. Seems we’ve discussed one of his other listings recently. Remarks about multiple expert appraisals and a sale by RIA raise a red flag or two. Glad I don’t play in that ballpark.
Mike
If that rifle is original, I’ll fly to the Cody show and treat everyone to a steak dinner after the show.
April 15, 2005
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steve004 said
I had also wondered if something like Snake Oil had been wiped all over it – but that still wouldn’t explain the use on the wood not matching up with the metal. And yes, we have discussed some of this seller’s offerings before.
100% Positively recase color finished.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 20, 2023
Online
Bert H. said
steve004 said
I had also wondered if something like Snake Oil had been wiped all over it – but that still wouldn’t explain the use on the wood not matching up with the metal. And yes, we have discussed some of this seller’s offerings before.
100% Positively recase color finished.
That couldn’t have been cheap to do. I wonder why whoever paid for it didn’t have an equivalent job done on the wood. This is not the only half-done restoration attempt I’ve seen. I suppose we shouldn’t discount intervening illness or death as a reason.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 19, 2006
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The use on the wood is not the only thing that impacts my opinion. If the wood were pristine, I would not accept the case colors as original.
January 20, 2023
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Steve, I think we’re all agreed the finishes are not original. What is surprising to me is how stupid he thinks his customer base must be.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
September 19, 2014
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Folks, I suggest T/R wade in as more than likely, if it did sell through RIA, he has a record of it. If so it would be interesting how its condition was described and what it looked like at that time. Hope I haven’t unfairly pointed at Tom. Tim
June 4, 2017
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I did a Google search and no hit. Next step I would ask for good photos after the gun was wiped dry including screw heads looking for machine chatter marks. A gun that large if redone would have flaws. What about the wood? What about the price?
At a gun show I would stop look and keep on walking. T/R
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