Lever-Action WINCHESTER, Model 1886 in .40-82 (Turnbull Restoration)…………SOLD
Created on October 11th 2013
Spectacular Winchester 1886 in .40-82
This is a Genuine Winchester serial numbered 47757 made between 1889 and 1890 by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. It has been professionally restored by the Turnbull Manufacturing Company in the USA.
The rifle offered has kept its original Winchester serial number which is on the lower tang, visible beyond the closed lever. The heavy, special order, octagonal barrel is blued with virtually no edge wear and a bright front flat. All the edges of the 24″ long barrel have remained as sharp as they should be. The correct details are clearly visible on the top flat and read as follows; “—- MANUFACTURED BY — / —-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN.CONN. U.S.A.—” The caliber markings are clear behind the open “V” traditional rear sight and indicate ” 40 – 82 ” . There is a globe type front sight which, when laying down, doubles as a conventional inverted “V”. The pointer in the globe hints at the accuracy that could be possible, with the correct load, from this heavy duty beast from the past. The other inescapable observation that can not be ignored, on inspection of the bore, is that this rifle has the best condition bore I have EVER seen on an Antique Winchester. At this point it is not possible to tell whether this rifle has a new barrel or if some other method has been used to create the sharp, precise, perfect rifling within. When examining this rifle one immediately starts to imagine great feats of shooting skill that, up to now, seem to have eluded this weekend cowboy.
Mechanically the rifle is tuned up to a tee. The lever action is so positive that you almost feel that the weapon is resisting you in the first part of the cycle until the case flips out, then on chambering the next round, quite the reverse. The image of a western steam-engine at full pelt, cow catcher and all behind you, drives the next round home. The trigger release is excellent and the results speak for themselves as the rounds slam home out there in front of you. The weight and balance of the rifle soak up the recoil, there is nothing better in this genre.
Back to the gun. What Turnbull have created is the Winchester Rifle that the proud new owner walked out of the gun-shop with in the year 1890. It has been faithfully refinished using traditional methods and they have recreated the vivid case colours that their grandfathers finished the rifles with. There are the strong dark blues on the barrel, trigger and bolt, and the finely finished American black walnut stocks, with excellent edge to metal fit, which the original craftsmen of the era produced.
Description; 43.1/4″ overall length. Full length round tubular magazine – blued. Fore-end cap is beautifully case colour hardened as is the crescent moon steel butt-plate and the lever. All the visible screw heads are blued and also the side loading gate which contrasts nicely with the coloured action. The background to all the blueing is a mild gun-metal grey which sets off nicely against the colours in the steel. The model designation on the upper tang has been neatly refreshed and reads “–MODEL 1886–“. On the lower tang, just behind the trigger, are the patent dates; “–PAT. OCT. 14. 1884. / JAN. 20. 1885.” The border checkered thumb-piece on the hammer is fine and is also case-colour hardened. On one side of the fore-end at the rear towards the action is a clear “33” stamped into the surface – meaning unknown.
This is an opportunity to own a Winchester that falls into a very small group within the arms collecting world, one that comes up very infrequently – a full professional restoration. It can be verified as such by research. Although it falls under section 58(ii) of the Firearms Act, it requires no license to purchase and own. If licensed it is highly usable without fear of damage to a genuine antique.
£ 3495. SOLD
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