Beschreibung:

As stated in several publications on Winchester, T.G. Bennett obtained a crude wooden model of a lever action when bringing the design for the Highwall back to Winchester, this wooden model would later become the Model 1886. As part of the payment for the design Browning was to receive finished rifles. These rifles are marked with "Browning Brothers Ogden, UT." or sometimes just a "U" after Utah became a state in 1896. With this rifle is an original Buffalo Bill Historical Center letter dated May 29, 1979 confirming this information that guns were used as payment, and a second letter confirming the characteristics of this rifle also comes with this rare gun. It is unknown how many rifles were to be paid to Browning and what serial numbers were payment guns and what were merely Browning sold firearms. Browning also designed the "50 Express" and it was first chambered in 1887. The gun is a Winchester Model 1886 rifle built by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1892. Gun has full blued octagon barrel with blade front and 2-leaf express sight especially designed for this cartridge. Barrel is marked with Winchester 2-line Address and has stamped between rear sight and address "BROWNING BROS OGDEN U." with caliber marking of "50EX" on top barrel flat at rear. Gun has case hardened frame with full blued tubular magazine and factory single set trigger with tang marked "Model 1886". Blued bolt and loading gate. Madis states 1 in 31 rifles had a set trigger and Arthur Pirkle states that approximately around 5,000 of the total production of around 115,000 rifles were chambered in this caliber. Gun has walnut plain stock with crescent buttplate what appear to be factory-type sling swivels. Walnut plain forend with blued nosecap and factory-style sling swivel. A rare rifle with even more rare historical significance. CONDITION: 80% fading barrel blue with some surface pitting across top of barrel. 80% original fading case colors with some light surface corrosion. Bolt and loading gate retains 80% fading original blue. Wood has 80% original finish with a light coat of linseed oil and some light usage scratches and dings. Forearm has small hairline crack on left side of forearm. Perfect bore and mechanics. DLM Name Value Accessories Barrel Length 26" Caliber/Bore .50 Express Drop at Comb Drop at Heel FFL Status Antique Length of Pull Manufacturer Winchester Model 1886 Paperwork LOA Serial Number 65830