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Chuck said
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.
On this particular rifle Chuck, looks are paramount to me. I would still like to acquire or trade for a 1886 marked rear leaf.
AG
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Chuck, The sights I have, both 1876 and 1886 are marked the same as to the leaf range marks. The only difference is the model / date mark. T/R
The Madis sight book states that the year marking on the sight has to do with the model of the sight not the model of the gun it goes on.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Thanks for the info Bob. A friend has a high value lettered all original 86 DOM 1898 & I went & checked it today. It has a 1876 marked rear sporting leaf.
AG
AG, I spent some time with a dial caliper and the slide on the staff is wider on the 1876 model. The slider is .736″ wide on the 1886 and .812″ on the 1876. This is a outside dimension on the slider, the staff is the same size on both. Perhaps this is to compensate for barrel width, you use the slider to pull up the staff. I never noticed until I laid them along side each other. T/R
Now there’s something I wouldn’t of thought of, but I don’t have a 1886 marked one to compare.
Thanks TR,
AG
Ag, I corrected my last post, I changed the 1876 to 1886 on the .736″ wide measurement. Also you have to keep in mind I only checked a few sights. Winchester has always made minor changes to their sight models over time in production for whatever reason. T/R
Thanks TR I knew it was a typo. I would like to acquire an 86 marked sight anyway. Lots of time….I hope!!
AG
I have a very very nice 1886 original sight, it has 95% bright blue on the base and all the soft brushed blue on the staff and slider. This sight belongs on a very very nice 86. Because of it’s condition I would ask $400. T/R
Forgot I had the Pirkle book. This also explains it a little.
AG
AG said
Forgot I had the Pirkle book. This also explains it a little.
Highly perceptive that he revealed the ladder “was designed to be raised vertically.” I’d been a little confused about that. You too, no doubt.
clarence said
AG said
Forgot I had the Pirkle book. This also explains it a little.Highly perceptive that he revealed the ladder “was designed to be raised vertically.” I’d been a little confused about that. You too, no doubt.
Haha. Probably would’ve figured it out eventually Clarence.
AG
Chuck said
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.
I have an unmarked sight now with elevation increments 5,10,15,20,25,30. Same increments in the 1907 catalog.
The 1876 marked sight increments are 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 displayed in the 1905 catalog.
AG
AG said
I have an unmarked sight now with elevation increments 5,10,15,20,25,30. Same increments in the 1907 catalog.
The 1876 marked sight increments are 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 displayed in the 1905 catalog.AG
My 1876 marked sight and my 1886 marked sight both look the same as each other except for an additional screw on the base of the 1886. They are both marked 1 through 10. The staff on both sights have a circular notch cut on the top of the groove. On the 1886 this circular cut area goes over a screw in the base. 
Good photo Chuck. Here’s a pic of mine with different elevation numbers.
AG
Had a couple guns with these sights to compare dimensions & markings:
1876 SN 2545 (at left): OAL 2.546″, Staff Width .504″, Slide Width .753″, Dovetail Base Width .760″
1876 SN 14184 (center): OAL 2.551″, Staff Width .505″, Slide Width .828″, Dovetail Base Width .765″
1886 (came off 1886): OAL 2.545″, Staff Width .504″, Slide Width .748″, Dovetail Base Width .763″
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
1892takedown said
Had a couple guns with these sights to compare dimensions & markings:
1876 SN 2545 (at left): OAL 2.546″, Staff Width .504″, Slide Width .753″, Dovetail Base Width .760″
1876 SN 14184 (center): OAL 2.551″, Staff Width .505″, Slide Width .828″, Dovetail Base Width .765″
1886 (came off 1886): OAL 2.545″, Staff Width .504″, Slide Width .748″, Dovetail Base Width .763″
Those are exactly what I have. Both types are on my 86’s.
AG
I am still of the opinion that the 1886 sight is the same as the 1876 sight except for the date marking and the width of the slide. .748″ for 1886 and ,828″ for 1876. That said, every rule has a exception when on a Winchester, they were a factory that made production changes and never threw away a good part. Chris’s 1876 sight on the left has the narrow slide but the slide screw has been turned, slide has a notch on top and bottom, no provision for staff anchor screw, and the color of the staff doesn’t match the base. Chuck’s 1886 sight is “correct” and the slide width measures .748″. T/R
TR,
Your right about the staff, I guess I never paid that much attention and that it doesnt have the staff anchor screw. The other thing is that the rear sight notch is “U”shaped where the others shown here are “V” shaped. With it being marked 1876, you think its an earler/later staff, dont have many other examples other than what are shown on this thread to compare. I guess the alternative question would be what sight base does not have the staff anchor screw?
The other thing I noticed taking another look is that the pin for the staff on the 76 (left sight) and right sight (86) are similar in that one end of the pin is larger diameter. The pin on the center sight is the same size on both ends.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
Chris, I have always been puzzled by the 1876, 1886, or no marking staff’s. I don’t know if the number refers to the gun model, sight model, or year introduced. With the marking the same otherwise, the only difference is slide width. They might have narrowed it to keep it from getting hooked on a case or scabbard, production change? I can only guess, at the end of the day, not very important. T/R
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