Log In
Members
Home
Add Reply
Add Topic
Can anyone advise when Winchester changed the rear sporting leaf marked 1876. My two 1886’s(original) have the 1876 marked rear sporting leaf sight. The 1891 catalog shows the sporting leaf sight below which is marked 1000 for the 86.
Did Winchester install the 1876 marked rear leaf if the 1000 for the 86 wasn’t available or out of stock?
AG
Offline
I think both sights you show are for the 1876. The April 1886 catalog shows the sight with the 1000 on top as a 1876 sight. I don’t see a replacement for it in the catalogs after 1886. I can’t find a picture of the Sporting Leaf Sight that says 1876 on the top. ( I do have one on my 1876). The 1879 catalog shows the 1000 marked sight.
Stoebel’s book on page 287 states that sometimes the Sporting Leaf sight is marked 1876 on the top of the leaf. Then it says discontinued in 1909. I assume this to mean the sight was discontinued.
Chuck said
I think both sights you show are for the 1876? The April 1886 catalog shows the sight with the 1000 on top as a 1876 sight.
1891 is the oldest catalog I have Chuck so I’m assuming the 1876 marked sight was being used for both the 76 & 86.
The 1000 on top is in my 1896 catalog so somewhere between 1891 & 1896 it changed to the 1000 marked sight?
Maybe someone can confirm the history here. Winchester probably threw on whatever rear sporting leaf(.45-70 application) was available in the bin.
AG
AG said
1891 is the oldest catalog I have Chuck so I’m assuming the 1876 marked sight was being used for both the 76 & 86.
The 1000 on top is in my 1896 catalog so somewhere between 1891 & 1896 it changed to the 1000 marked sight?Maybe someone can confirm the history here. Winchester probably threw on whatever rear sporting leaf(.45-70 application) was available in the bin.
AG
Read my edited post above. I think the trend was to go with tang sights rather than the barrel sights. The original 1876 sight was developed for the 45-75 caliber. I am not sure how accurate it would be for other calibers. Your 1886’s would probably have been manufactured with the sporting sight, non leaf and if you were shooting farther then a tang sight would be added.
Chuck said
I think both sights you show are for the 1876. The April 1886 catalog shows the sight with the 1000 on top as a 1876 sight. I don’t see a replacement for it in the catalogs after 1886. I can’t find a picture of the Sporting Leaf Sight that says 1876 on the top. ( I do have one on my 1876). The 1879 catalog shows the 1000 marked sight.Stoebel’s book on page 287 states that sometimes the Sporting Leaf sight is marked 1876 on the top of the leaf. Then it says discontinued in 1909. I assume this to mean the sight was discontinued.
Ok thanks Chuck. I loaned out my sight books & only going by my catalogs. I obviously have the sometimes marked 1876 on top Sporting Leaf sight as you mentioned by Stoebel’s.
Will have to look into the 1000 marked sight. I guess either are period & application correct.
AG
Neither are period correct for an 1886. They still are collectable and look cool.
Winchester made the sporting leaf marked with 1873, 1876, 1886 and unmarked .
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
AG, All my 76’s with that sight are marked 1876 and all my 86’s with that sight are marked 1886. They are alike except for the the date marking. These guns are original with the original sights. T/R
TR said
AG, All my 76’s with that sight are marked 1876 and all my 86’s with that sight are marked 1886. They are alike except for the the date marking. These gun are original with the original sights. T/R
Thanks TR. I guess I’ll chase a 86 marked sporting leaf or trade my 1876 marked sight for one.
AG
AG said
It has a folding globe no5 which I believe to be original & read these were commonly used for target shooting as this EH was prob used for.
If you’re referring to the Lyman #5, it wouldn’t have been available before 1891.
Buying an ’86 for target shooting seems strange to me.
Thanks Clarence. Now I need a beaches front sight also lol.
AG
AG said
Thanks Clarence. Now I need a beaches front sight also lol.AG
Since sights aren’t specified in your letter, the standard “sporting” front sight seems to me a more logical (and cheaper) choice.
Checked the stash & found one Clarence. Matches perfectly. Can’t seem to find a rear marked 1886 online anywhere.
AG
mrcvs said
Early 1886s with the ladder rear sight were marked ‘1876’.
Interesting mrcvs. That’s makes sense as I really believed this rear sporting leaf to be original. Can I conclude 1890 as early?
Thanks
AG
Ag, If the sight is the right type, color, and condition who cares if it’s marked 1876 or 1886. I personally don’t think Winchester did, the question is does it look like it was born there. T/R
TR said
Ag, If the sight is the right type, color, and condition who cares if it’s marked 1876 or 1886. I personally don’t think Winchester did, the question is does it look like it was born there. T/R
Yes TR it’s the same color & condition & definitely looks born there. Thank you for your replies & the others On this. Clarence was right on the money about the front sight as I went through the stash & found a sporting front in a baggie marked 1886 EH.
I forgot I changed it to a matching Lyman No 5.
All good.
AG
I never worried much about a gun that had better sights on it. I have never seen an 1886 marked sight but really never looked for one. I wonder if the leaf/ staff, is calibrated the same as the 1876? In reality looks is what counts. If you shoot the gun you always have to learn how your sight works at the different distances anyway.
1 Guest(s)
