1886 Price check

[Betty-Lou]

I'm looking for some insight into the value of two 1886 rifles. I know the price varies greatly with these so I'm hoping some knowledgeable members can put me in the ballpark.

Thanks in advance.


1886 .45-90 Action is smooth and locks up solid. Forend slightly loose. Small repair(?) on bottom of the stock about where a sling post would be located on a modern rifle. I think the rifling is good but shows heavy leading, I haven't cleaned it as I'm not sure if doing so is good or bad. S/N: 11000x Dated 1896 from info found online.



1886 .33WCF Action is smooth and locks up solid. Forend slightly loose. Stock has been refinished and not done well. Metal probably been re blued and not done well. S/N: 14809x A Dated 1909 from info found online.


Will add pics.

 

[Demonical]

Are you selling or buying?

 

[Betty-Lou]

Maybe selling.

 

[kamlooky]

I'll taws sum newmeroh's............ $3000 & $2000
Condition pending and oww much fluff izz stuck to the rifling.
Awl depends awn the taste buds of the day and oww wet they arr.
Funny markit right now.

 

[Mike Webb]

The 45/90 looks to be in roughly usual condition for the vintage. People will pay a premium for 45/90 chambering in the 86. Looks relatively undicked with. I would guess worth around 3K . The 33 sprting rifle is lees desirable to a collector though that one is a special order gun as normal 33 had half mag, rapid taper barrel and shotgun butt. Yours has a full magazine which is a little different and not standard. Hard to tell if wood is oversanded from pics, a big value killer. Doesn't look reblued at least lettering doesn't appear smeared from over buffing. I would guess $1500-$1800 for it. Better and more pics would help.
Vintage Winchesters are a funny market now as a lot of the people who loved them have passed on and market is shrinking somewhat along with prices. Though a really good condition specimen will ALWAYS command top dollar. My 2 cents.

 

[Raton57]

There's a 33WCF at auction right now that was at 1700 last night.

 

[struff55]

The first one looks like the action has been stripped at some point not a del breaker but a price consideration

 

[gunlaker]

The first one looks like the action has been stripped at some point not a del breaker but a price consideration

For sure. That would make it a lot less desirable to most collectors. But for someone looking for a nice shooter it probably wouldn't matter much.

Chris.

 

[kamlooky]

The first one looks like the action has been stripped at some point not a del breaker but a price consideration

I sure wood'int think it was stripped.
Looks like natural pahteenuhh'in.
Diffrunt metals reflect diffrunt wrinkles.

 

[Mike Webb]

Not stripped. In that Era actions were case hardened. Wore off quickly.i

 

[chasseur]

One thing I always look at when considering an antique gun is the screws heads as they are a good indicator if the firearm has been messed with by an amateur.

 

[Janeau]

One thing I always look at when considering an antique gun is the screws heads as they are a good indicator if the firearm has been messed with by an amateur.

I am more concerned by the barrel condition. Rusted -pitted behond use..will affect value more than mangled screws.

 

[gunlaker]

I sure wood'int think it was stripped.
Looks like natural pahteenuhh'in.
Diffrunt metals reflect diffrunt wrinkles.

True, but the side of the receiver, in the pic where you can see the loading gate, looks like someone took steel wool to it to clean it up. Too white, shiny, and uniform. That is pretty common thing that seems to get done to a fair number older Winchester lever guns.

I also agree on the screws. It's the first thing I look at after the general condition of the outside.

The reality is though, that almost all of the old guns have been messed with by a gunplumber at some time, and most of us can't afford perfect originals anyway.

I'll bet the .45-90 would be worth $2500-$2800 and the .33 WCF maybe $1800. Years ago I had an identical looking .33 WCF and I sold it to a friend for $500. I'd rather have that old 1886 back now . I do like the full length magazine. I've never liked short magazines on lever guns.

Chris.

 

[Betty-Lou]

Thanks everyone for your insight, I appreciate it.

 

[Demonical]

Side track: Anybody ever see the firearms program the day they visited the Browning Museum (Morgan Utah I think)?

At the museum they have the prototype 1886 action that John M Browning had made from wood!

It's incredible to see that wooden, hand carved action. It cycles absolutely perfectly of course, in spite of being over 100 years old.

And of course Browning used that prototype to verify the dimensions and functionality of it.

The 1886 action is the greatest lever action ever built, in my humble opinion.

 

[cooey43]

Only true colledtors will pay TOP PRICE , if all is original & good condition.
Your .45-90 has had the receiver cleaned , wood chiped & maybe sanded
If rifling is good then $2500.
The .33 has had the rear sight replaced with a newer one. Finish mostly gone.
If rifling is good then $ 1,800.
This is based on the few pics you sent hear. You may get a little more if you have
a GOOD selling day ??? I have these guns for years.

 

[kamlooky]

Cody Letter the pair of them.
I had one bunch of years ago and was told that this wuzz wrong, that wuzz replaced etc etc.
A gent awn'ear had a Cody Letter that needed to be yewzed up and called my serial number in.
Heaven eff'in forbid, awl the nastys were in fact a custom ordered rifle proven by the Cody search and letter.
No arrgew'in it.

Dewer, then you'll know for sure.
And it'll add value too.