winchester model 1886

[golfish]

Thank you golfish! I emailed them to you really appreciate all your help!

Sorry 1sik33, I didn't get your e-mail but I see you got em posted up. Nice looking rifle..

[1sik33]

No worries thank you for trying to help. I called up the gun vault here in the bay area gave him the info that I had on the gun and the year it was made he d
said he wouldnt sell it for less than 6k? All the research I have done thats the low end of the spectrum and some sell as high as 28k? I would consider this gun to be better then the ones I see selling for 9k? Am I missing something?

[1sik33]

Does anyone know if this gun since it was never registered needs to be sold through a ffl?

[kendog4570]

Does anyone know if this gun since it was never registered needs to be sold through a ffl?

If it was made in 1889 or 1891 it is not a firearm, it is an antique. It can be sold or traded or otherwise transferred with no issues. Not sure how the upcoming CA law with regards to long guns applies.

[Flyin Brian]

No worries thank you for trying to help. I called up the gun vault here in the bay area gave him the info that I had on the gun and the year it was made he d
said he wouldnt sell it for less than 6k? All the research I have done thats the low end of the spectrum and some sell as high as 28k? I would consider this gun to be better then the ones I see selling for 9k? Am I missing something?

If you live in the Bay Area, the best thing to do is take it to the "Big Reno Show" in Reno on March 27,28 & 29. There are a few guys there that can give you an honest appraisal on what it's worth.

I totally agree with what Peter_in_CA wrote about it...if it was a 45-70 or 45-90 it would probably start at $10K and go up from there, but some chamberings just don't bring the big money. From your photos it appears to be a blued receiver, which is less desirable than a case colored receiver. It also appears to have turned to brown, which is very common, but the "brown guns" don't bring the same money as one that still looks blue.

You should get someone to look at it that knows what they are looking at... and most gun shops are not going to have a clue what the true value is. You need to find an advanced collector who specializes in Winchesters and then find a few more and compare quotes. I'd say Reno is your best bet, but there are some real sleaze bags there too, so that's why I said to have a couple people look at it, not just one.

Good luck!!

[1sik33]

Thank you for the info Brian! I am not a collector so this is all new to me. I am trying to help my uncle out. I know he wants to sell it and I just want to make sure he doesnt get screwed by someone who tells him its worth 2k then takes the gun and turns around and sells it for 10. Thanks for everyones help.

[Bhauer]

I love the old Winchesters. There are a lot of collectors out there. Good advise to take it to a gun show. Original rifles in decent condition are pretty valuable.

[OCGunFan]

I hate to be the turd in the punch bowl but whoever said you shouldn't sell this 1886 for less than $10k is smoking crack. If you get a Cody letter, which isn't really necessary because the gun is obviously original, if you sold it for $3-4k, you're getting top dollar from someone who knows the market. There are people who have more money than sense and make stupid impulse buys without regard to cost, but you'll be hard pressed to find anyone ignorant enough to pay $10k. For $10k I'll find you 3 guns identical to yours or an 1886 special order or takedown lettered in mint original condition that puts your gun to shame.

I've been collecting Winchester lever guns since the 70's, I just sent 28 Winchester 1873, 1886, 1892 & 1894 rifles to auction. While I'm no expert when it come to every nuance of the Winchester lever gun, I've had quite a bit of experience with them.

Your gun is a nice original example of a standard 1886 that has typical patina but no original blue except in a couple of protected corners and maybe on the loading gate. Other than the octagon barrel there are no features that make this gun especially attractive to an experienced collector. If it was in a 45 or 50 caliber that had lots of custom features or was a special order or had historical significance, now we're talking.

What hurts the value of this gun is the caliber, it's the 2nd least desirable behind the 33 cal and anyone who buys a 40-82, mainly does so because the gun is in mint original condition or it's a rare special order.

I'll be at the Winchester Reno show selling a few of my higher end guns that I don't trust to an auction. It's an incredible show with the most spectacular examples of the rarest Winchester and Colts in existence. Many of the guns there are featured in books, the most knowledgeable guys will be there and if you have the time, by all means treat yourself to a fantastic show.

HOWEVER.......If you decide to go you'll be in for a shock because any offer you get from the guys at Reno will be extremely disappointing. I'd like you to ask the dealer, who said he wouldn't sell your Winchester for less than $6k, how much he would would buy it for. If he can sell it for $6k, I'm sure he'd jump at the chance to buy it for $3-4k, but my experience tells me he wouldn't even offer to buy it for more than $1500-2000.

You have a nice original gun but in the world of Winchester collectors, it's nothing rare or special. PM me if you go to Reno and I'll buy you a beer.