The Winchester Model 1886 is an American lever-action repeating rifle produced from 1886 to 1935 by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The fourth iteration of the Winchester rifle and the first to be designed by John Browning, the Model 1886 was essentially a Model 1876 with a much stronger action. The rifle was commercially highly successful.[1][2]
History[]
The Model 1886 was first marketed in 1886 as an improved version of the Model 1876,[1] and continued Winchester's trend of migrating towards larger and more powerful cartridges. The rifle was the first Winchester rifle designed under the direction of a then-23 year old John Browning. Generally regarded as one of the finest lever actions Winchester has produced, the Model 1886 was an instant success, being marketed from 1886 to 1935, over which time 159,441 were produced.[3]
In recent years, the weapon has re-entered production, with replicas being produced by Uberti and Miroku Corp..[4][5]
Design Details[]
The Winchester Model 1886's action used a modified version of the Henry rifle action used in the previous few Winchester rifles. Prior to this rifle, the Winchester rifle incorporated a toggle-link bolt which operated like a knee joint. The Model 1886, however, ditched said knee joint; this was replaced by two sliding steel wedges located on either side of the bolt that act as locking lugs. These lugs help to completely restrain the bolt from any sort of movement due to thrust exerted upon it on firing. Other than the use of the two wedges, the system remains largely the same, where a cartridge carrier picks up cartridges, places them into battery and then flings them out of the gun.[1]
Ammunition[]
Original Model 1886s are chambered for a number of high-powered rifle cartridges, although it was mainly advertised to be chambered in .45-70 Government; most modern reproductions of the rifle may also be chambered in these cartridges.[4]
Variants[]
The Model 1886 has two sub-variants, each with some distinguishing points. The rifle was available in three lengths: rifle, carbine and "musket"[6] (which was mainly used to differentiate longer versions of guns of the same model[7]). Early versions of the carbine and muskets are noted as being rare, with early carbines having full-length foreends.
It is known there are two sub-variants of the Model 1886, the first model and second model;[3] what the differences are between both models is unknown.
References[]
- ā 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2014/7/25/a-look-back-at-the-1886-winchester/
- ā https://www.forgottenweapons.com/winchester-lever-action-development-model-1886/
- ā 3.0 3.1 https://gun-data.com/winchester_model_1886.html
- ā 4.0 4.1 https://www.uberti-usa.com/1886-sporting-rifle
- ā http://www.winchesterguns.com/support/faq/when-why-did-production-winchesters-historic-designs-move.html
- ā http://www.homestead-service.com/appraisals/winchester/1886/history-1886.htm
- ā https://www.rockislandauction.com/blog/how-to-identify-a-winchester-1866/