For your consideration is a very fine condition Winchester 1886 rifle with serial number 82108 made during the early years of production, .40-65 caliber, made 1893. A scarce and desirable big game chambering in the Model 1886, the .40-65 cartridge was one of the chamberings that John Browning used to make the big Model 1886 the strongest and most potent lever action rifle of the day. This cartridge is basically the straight walled .45-70 case tapered down to accept a 260 grain .40 caliber bullet propelled by a full 65 grains of black powder. For the time, this was a high velocity, flat shooting cartridge that found favor with hunters pursuing game from antelope to elk. Few surviving examples of such an early production date remain today in this fine, unaltered condition and are infrequently offered on the collector market. The specific aspects of this fine rifle have been verified by the Cody, Wyoming Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center which contains the original Winchester shipping records. Members of the museum may contact the records department for specific Winchester rifle data. This was done with this rifle. The “Call-In” sheet that accompanies Model 1886 with serial number 82108 was sent by the records department and states that this rifle had its serial number applied on June 24, 1893. It further verifies that it originally left the Winchester factory as a rifle, caliber .40-65, with round barrel and plain trigger. It was received in the warehouse on November 27, 1893 and shipped from the warehouse on September 12, 1894 to order number 21280. The standard and correct 26” round barrel shows a deep and rich aged blue finish with only normal thinning and retains excellent Winchester markings that include: “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO., NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.” The upper tang is marked with the earliest model designation and states simply, “MODEL 1886.” The bolt located on the top of the receiver also shows a light blue finish. The receiver case colors have faded to an attractive silvery-gray appearance with generally excellent screw heads indicating that this fine rifle was not disassembled or repaired. The action is fully functional and tight. The excellent condition butt stock, with correct early heavy crescent-style butt plate, and forearm display fine, very tight wood to metal fit. Even the bore is surprisingly fine with good rifling all the way through. Further, this early 1886 is fitted with a flat top buckhorn rear sight with elevator bar intact and a blade/bead front sight. The top of the barrel ahead of the receiver is clearly and correctly stamped with the caliber designation “40-65 W.C.F.” The 1886 in .40-65 chambering was very popular in the American West. This is an exceptionally early and seriously powerful frontier rifle in particularly fine condition that is worthy of the finest Winchester or western firearms collection. This firearm qualifies as an Antique, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.