1886......33wcf............It's official

kamlooky

kamlooky

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Interior BC
Edit....Cody says this gal came with the Rifle Butt......................:dancingbanana:
And thanks to a fellow CGN for doing the favor of checking for me/us.


I bought a collection of rifles from a friend I've known for years.
They have been stored around the 20 year mark.
One in question is this 1886 in 33WCF.
It has been mentioned that the rear stock may not be correct for
this vintage gal?
Curious to whether the front sight is of place of birth also.
Anyone here belong to the Buffalo Bill Historical Society and have a spare
search at the Cody Firearms Museum?
I'd be forever in your debt..................:p
Some photos for your viewing.

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/1886%2033WCF/DSC08263_zpsc82aff02.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/1886%2033WCF/DSC08285_zpsdd7ea6d8.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/1886%2033WCF/DSC08283_zps43d04fdf.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/1886%2033WCF/DSC08282_zps85ce56fc.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/1886%2033WCF/DSC08279_zps4c14019d.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/1886%2033WCF/DSC08280_zpsadfb4f7a.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/1886%2033WCF/DSC08274_zpsaa79216a.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/1886%2033WCF/DSC08273_zpsf7815ff1.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/1886%2033WCF/DSC08292_zps35d7f6bf.jpg.html][/URL]

Thanks folks, you're the bestest..........:wave:
 
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It's a junker 'looky and totally unsuited to your local hunting conditions, likely why it was stored for so long. Hell, the screws aren't even indexed! My safe has copious space right now since the move...I'd be glad to help you out with giving it a home.
 
I have one like it but with the shotgun style but plate. I have seen them with that stock, too. I would say it's original, but I'm no expert.
 
One of my .33 win 86 lightweight's has the Sheard front sight like yours. This was an option available at the time. My other one has the standard Lyman no. 4 ivory sight.
The buttstock on lightweights and extra lightweihts was a shotgun style with a cut-out under the butt plate to reduce weight. It looks like yours is not original, but, with Winchesters, you can never say never.
 
According to my Winchester Bible your fine '86 was made in 1906.
interesting trivia..... one in 150 were made with a non-standard magazine such as your half-mag or the button mag, etc.
. one in 5 were made with a round barrel.
 
That wicked curved butt plate brings a tear to the eye and terror to the heart!

I'm interested to see what Douglas has to say; he's has a particular interest in Winchester lever guns, backed up by an enviable collection. Assuming that is, that he's not back in deepest darkest Africa, or off shooting penguins or something.
 
That is one cool looking rifle, and a great cartridge that it's chambered in. Nice!

It's only a guess, but I'd bet both the buttplate and sight are original. And like somebody else said, maybe the sight was an option, when the gun was purchased.
 
Boomer said:
That wicked curved butt plate brings a tear to the eye and terror to the heart!

I'm interested to see what Douglas has to say; he's has a particular interest in Winchester lever guns, backed up by an enviable collection. Assuming that is, that he's not back in deepest darkest Africa, or off shooting penguins or something.
Click to expand...

I think the Douglas feller has me on ignore..................:nest:
 
I have an original Winchester salesmans catalog from 1910 and it states that 33WCF model 1986 rifles with full or half magazines could be furnished with rifle buttstocks, but are listed with shotgun buttstocks and hard rubber butt plates as standard. The sheard front sight is not listed in the catalog but I believe that Winchester would furnish about any sight combination required. Hope this helps.
 
My 1886 33 WCF, is sn 146###. . round barrel, full magazine, curved metal buttplate . .

The only differences I notice between yours and mine, aside from the magazine, are; my front sight blade has no name stamped on it. .

But here's a difference of mystery. The position of your rifle's "33 WCF and WP" stampings on the rear of the barrel . . When Winchester began applying the WP marks, around 1900, the proof mark was stamped, on the barrel, where the caliber normally was and the caliber was re-positioned to the left rear side of the barrel. . That's exactly where my 1886 is marked, as well as other Winchester rifles of that era.. Who knows for certain after all this time has passed, but the 33 WCF cartridge was brought out by Winchester as a smokeless only cartridge for their 1886 rifle so the barrels automatically received proof markings. . Not a big deal but an oddity.
 
Rosie said:
I have an original Winchester salesmans catalog from 1910 and it states that 33WCF model 1986 rifles with full or half magazines could be furnished with rifle buttstocks, but are listed with shotgun buttstocks and hard rubber butt plates as standard. The sheard front sight is not listed in the catalog but I believe that Winchester would furnish about any sight combination required. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

You're alive!
 
Kamlooky,
The Model 86 Repeating Rifle of 33WCF came standard with a half magazine as well as a hard rubber shotgun buttplate. And, most will be seen with a Lyman # 4 Hunting Front Sight. That said, the rifle could be ordered with a rifle buttstock as well as different sights to a customer's order, as well as with a full magazine, or in a TD rifle, etc. The front sight looks right, as does the buttstock, the thing I find odd - as was already noted - is the placement (location) of the WP proof mark and caliber stamp on the barrel. I see the Nickel Steel markings on the barrel, can you take a photo of the Winchester barrel address marking on the barrel?
Your gun was serialized in 1906, according to the PRR at Cody.
Matt
 
My '86 has a serial #5k earlier than yours and this barrel is marked identical to yours with 33wcf markings directly behind rear sight. Differences are mine has shotgun butt, full mag tube and a Marble #2 front sight. Also my barrel has the Winchester-New Haven on the barrel, but no patent dates. They are on the bottom tang behind trigger. When I removed the butt plate I found a glass vial with 2 fishing hooks, about 20 feet of line and a dozen red head matches! Be prepared!
 
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