1886 with a long barrel

[1Hawkeye]

I was at the lgs yesterday and they have a 1886 Winchester in. 38-56 in nice shape with a 30" barrel for 1800.00. I know that Winchester made longer barrels then the standard 26" but how common is a 30" especially in that caliber? O and the manufacturer date is 1899.

[veeman]

$1800 is a steal. Check it over real good. At that price, something is bound to be wrong with it. I don't think a 30" barrel is very common, a custom order for sure, and 38-56 isn't/wasn't a very popular caliber.

[Kev18]

What else is custom on it. I bet if it has a long barrel, it probably has a custom stock and sights.

[1Hawkeye]

Nothing else is special about it. Its a standard model 86 octagon barreled rifle with the exception of the 30" barrel unless its a heavy barrel and I missed that part. It looks pretty normal except for the length.

[Kev18]

I can check for you in my winchester book. I'm pretty sure they did longer barrels after a certain number of rifles produced. I know they did octagon barrels for 1 in 7 I think. Mine has an octagon barrel, button mag, leaf sight, and it's in 40-82. It makes it rare since it has different options on it, even if it wasn't custom order. Yours doesn't have a shotgun butt or anything?

[1Hawkeye]

I went back for a second look this morning. Its a standard model rifle with the exception of the barrel length. Its strong points are the blue is still there on the barrel except on the corners where its rubbed off or turning patina,the case colors are gone but all the areas that were cased still have the nickeled look with some case still on the lever, The bore is in nice shape but a little dusty, Now the weak points the stock has a 120 years of dings dents and scratches but no cracks or chips, the rear sight blade has been filed down at a bad angle halfway through the set screw, and somewhere down the road the magazine tube mount has been broken off the barrel damaging the dovetail for it. Which was repaired by putting the mount back in the dovetail and using a pocket knife blade as a wedge to secure the mount it the dovetail rather than closing in the ends of the dovetail. I was thinking pretty hard about getting this rifle but after a second examination I don't think its anywhere worth that kind of price tag. The dovetail is an easy fix but trying to find a sight will be too big of a pain.

[veeman]

Sights are easy to find, ebay has lots of them.

[1Hawkeye]

Yes but the trick ts to find the correct sight at a realistic price.

[indian joe]

Yes but the trick ts to find the correct sight at a realistic price.

I agree with Veeman - if your description is anywhere close - its cheap at 1800.

[Kev18]

Bargain.Maybe 1500$ ? Seems like a nice rifle for the price.

[1Hawkeye]

Yea I can get it out of my head. I might go by and offer them 1500 in the morning and see what happens.

[Chill Wills]

Sure they are pricey but rolled into the cost of an old rifle it is nothing.
Here is a barrel sight and is priced about like most. It needs the little elevator which runs about $30 give or take.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Winchester-Semi-Buckhorn-Rear-Sight-Fits-1873-1876-1886-1892-1894-1885-94-53-55/153235379415?hash=item23ad8a54d7:g:HwIAAOSwrmRb1Ry E
OR
install a blank and get a tang sight which is $$ too.
OR
I have a few barrel sights around that will fit. You GET the rifle and I will make you a deal - half price of what you can find on ebay for similar.

Owning and shooting the rifle, priceless. You only live once.
Look at my avatar.

[Kev18]

Look at Homestead parts for sights. They probably have a couple. Good luck with the rifle.

Does it have a full length mag tube also to match the barrel?
I got a good deal on my rifle a few years ago. Walked in the store in-between classes in college. I wanted to buy my first gun. Turns out the guy had an 1886 octagon, button mag, leaf sight. He said it was a project gun. It was "rusty". Paid 250$

[beltfed]

Ha,
I paid $60 for my '86 in 1963. Very Nice rebuild by Gene Lechner.
Have shot many deer with it over the years
beltfed/arnie

[Kev18]

Ha,
I paid $60 for my '86 in 1963. Very Nice rebuild by Gene Lechner.
Have shot many deer with it over the years
beltfed/arnie

Damn, thats a deal and a half!

Im hoping to come back to the thread and reading that he bought the gun. I just want to see pictures !

[veeman]

$60 was probably alot of money back in 63. Good year, my birth year.

[Kev18]

$60 was probably alot of money back in 63. Good year, my birth year.

Depends for what. My grandfather bought a browning A5 that he still has around that time period and he paid alot more. But it was new also.

[indian joe]

Ha,
I paid $60 for my '86 in 1963. Very Nice rebuild by Gene Lechner.
Have shot many deer with it over the years
beltfed/arnie

Arnie
we gettin old mate!! 1963 I started work @10 bucks a week - that 86 cost ya six weeks of my wages - a kid starting the same job now (proly not allowed to leave school for several years) farm start wages I guess about $400 a week - buy me a brand new Chiappa 86 ..............