Image: Restored Winchester Model 1886 in .50-110 Winchester. Visit our gallery to see additional restored Winchester Model 1886 examples.
The Winchester Model 1886: A Story of Strength, Innovation, and Frontier Legend
If ever there was a rifle that embodied the grit and grandeur of the American frontier, it was the Winchester Model 1886. A lever-action built not just for speed but for raw power, it stood apart from its predecessors in strength, capability, and sheer innovation. Designed by none other than John Moses Browning, the Model 1886 is a legend among Winchester collectors, hunters, and lovers of fine firearms.
In This Article:
- Origins and Development: Winchester’s Search for Strength
- The Meeting of Minds: Winchester and Browning
- The Patent of October 14th, 1884
- Winchester’s Refinements: The Role of William Mason
- Configurations: Rifle, Carbine, and the Rare Musket
- First Model vs. Second Model Row
- Famous 1886 Owners, Including Theodore Roosevelt and Tom Selleck
- The Model 1886’s Legacy
- Parting Thoughts
- More from this Series
- Share Your Stories
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It was the rifle that took the lever-action beyond its previous limits, handling the most powerful cartridges of its day with ease. And it wasn’t just gunfighters and frontiersmen who took to the Model 1886—President Theodore Roosevelt himself carried one while out in the badlands. But to truly appreciate this rifle’s place in history, we need to start at the beginning.
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By the early 1880s, Winchester was at a crossroads. Their popular Model 1876, an enlarged version of the classic Model 1873, had made a name for itself as a solid rifle, but it had one big limitation—it wasn’t quite strong enough to handle the big-bore, high-power cartridges that were becoming essential for serious hunting and long-range shooting. The toggle-link action, which had served Winchester well since the days of the Henry rifle, simply wasn’t up to the task.
Enter John Moses Browning.
Image: Thomas G. Bennett and John Moses Browning.
In 1883, Winchester’s Vice President and General Manager, Thomas G. Bennett, had his eye on a young gunsmith from Ogden, Utah, who had already made a name for himself with a line of single-shot rifles. That gunsmith was John Moses Browning. Bennett, always on the lookout for new designs that could keep Winchester at the forefront of the firearms industry, traveled to Utah to meet Browning and see his work firsthand.
Browning, alongside his brothers, had been crafting robust, well-engineered firearms out of their family’s shop, and when Bennett arrived, he found a new lever-action design that immediately caught his attention. The rifle was unlike anything Winchester had produced before—it was stronger, smoother, and capable of handling the most powerful black powder cartridges of the day. Bennett wasted no time. Recognizing the potential, he struck a deal with Browning on the spot, purchasing the design and securing an exclusive relationship between Browning and Winchester that would last for decades.
Image: John Moses Browning’s United States Patent No. 306,577.
With the deal in place, Browning officially patented his new design on October 14, 1884 (U.S. Patent No. 306,577). The key innovation lay in its dual vertical locking bolts, which engaged directly with the receiver walls. Unlike the older toggle-link action found in previous Winchester rifles, this new system provided far greater strength, ensuring that the rifle could handle large-caliber cartridges like the .45-70 Government, .45-90 WCF, and even the hard-hitting .50-110 Express. The action was not only stronger but also allowed for smoother cycling and greater reliability in the field.
Image: William Mason
Once Winchester had the design in hand, it fell to their in-house engineering team to refine it for mass production. William Mason, one of Winchester’s top designers, was brought in to make final adjustments and manufacturing modifications. Mason, a veteran firearms designer who had previously worked for Colt, had a keen eye for practical improvements. He worked alongside Browning and Winchester’s engineers to ensure that the rifle would be both mechanically superior and cost-effective to produce.
Under Mason’s guidance, the action was fine-tuned, the receiver was strengthened, and the overall design was optimized for Winchester’s factory production methods. The result was the Winchester Model 1886, a rifle that was not only the strongest lever-action of its time but also one of the smoothest-operating and most reliable rifles ever produced.
By 1886, the rifle was ready for market, and it quickly earned a reputation as one of the finest lever-actions ever made.
Image: Restored Winchester Model 1886 Rifle in .38-56 WCF.
The most common variant was the standard rifle, typically fitted with a 26-inch barrel (either octagonal or round) and a full-length magazine tube. It was offered with both straight-grip and pistol-grip walnut stocks, and customers could choose from a variety of finishes. The Model 1886 rifle was a favorite among big-game hunters and sportsmen looking for a powerful, reliable firearm.
- Barrel Length and Shape: The standard barrel length for the Model 1886 Sporting Rifle was 26 inches. While round barrels were standard across all variants, octagonal barrels were available at an additional cost.
- Magazine Tube: The rifle typically featured a full-length magazine tube, accommodating a substantial number of cartridges.
- Stock Options: The standard Sporting Rifle came with a straight-grip walnut stock paired with a steel crescent buttplate. The Fancy Sporting Rifle, often referred to as the “deluxe” version, was standard with a 26-inch octagon barrel, full magazine, plain trigger, and a fancy walnut checkered pistol grip stock with a steel crescent buttplate.
- Finishes: Initially, the Model 1886 featured a case-colored receiver as the standard finish until August 1901, after which a blued finish became standard. Take Down variations were blued only, as were all Extra Light Weight models.
Image: Restored Winchester Model 1886 Saddle Ring Carbine in .45-70 Government.
For those needing a more compact package, Winchester offered the 1886 Carbine, which featured a 22-inch barrel and was often equipped with a saddle ring for easy carrying on horseback. Early carbines also had full-length forends, covering most of the barrel, a design that was later abandoned—making these early carbines extremely rare and valuable to collectors today.
- Barrel Length and Saddle Ring:
- 22-Inch Barrel: The Model 1886 Carbine was designed for portability, featuring a 22-inch round barrel, shorter than the standard rifle’s 26-inch barrel.
- Saddle Ring: To facilitate easy carrying on horseback, the carbine was equipped with a saddle ring mounted on the left side of the receiver.
- Forend Design:
- Early Full-Length Forends: Initial models of the Model 1886 Carbine were produced with full-length forends, extending close to the muzzle, similar to those found on muskets.
- Transition to Shorter Forends: This full-length forend design was later modified to a shorter version, covering only a portion of the barrel.
- Rarity and Collector Value:
- Collectible Status: Due to their limited production and the subsequent design change, carbines with the original full-length forends are considered rare and hold significant value among collectors.
Image: Winchester Model 1886 Musket in .45-70 Government. Image courtesy of Rock Island Auction.
The rarest configuration was the Model 1886 Musket, designed for military and militia use. This version featured a 30-inch barrel, a full-length forend extending nearly the entire barrel length, and a bayonet lug. Very few of these were produced, making them some of the most sought-after Winchester collectibles today.
- Design Features: The Model 1886 Musket was designed for military and militia applications, featuring a 30-inch round barrel, a full-length forend extending nearly the entire barrel length, and a bayonet lug.
- Production Numbers: Experts estimate that just over 350 units of the Model 1886 Musket were produced, making it the rarest among Winchester lever-action muskets.
- Collector’s Value: Due to their limited production and specific design, these muskets are highly sought after by collectors today.
First Model (Early Production)
- Featured a flat-top receiver design
- Used an early spring-loaded loading gate mechanism.
- Found on lower serial number rifles from the first production years.
Second Model (Later Production)
- Received slight modifications to the receiver profile.
- Included refinements to the internal mechanics for smoother operation.
- Was adapted for later smokeless powder cartridges, like the .33 WCF.
Few rifles in American history have been as admired and trusted by notable figures as the Winchester Model 1886. Two such admirers stand out: Theodore Roosevelt, the rugged outdoorsman and 26th President of the United States, and Tom Selleck, the legendary actor and renowned firearms collector.
Theodore Roosevelt had a deep affection for Winchester rifles, and the Model 1886 was no exception. An avid hunter and lifelong outdoorsman, Roosevelt acquired a Model 1886 chambered in .45-90 in 1887, a year after its introduction. This rifle accompanied him on numerous hunts, proving its worth against North America’s most formidable game. Roosevelt’s trust in the rifle’s power and reliability was so great that he brought a Winchester lever-action on nearly every major hunting expedition of his life. His fondness for the 1886 and other Winchester models helped cement their reputation as the premier rifles of the American frontier and beyond.
Image: Mr. Selleck’s restored and upgraded Winchester Model 1886 in .50-110 Winchester. Read more about this special, commemorative project.
Tom Selleck, known for his work in Western films, 80s television and his passion for historical firearms, is another famous admirer of the Winchester Model 1886. Not only does Selleck have a deep appreciation for Winchester lever-actions, but he also owns a beautifully restored Model 1886, which was brought back to its former glory by Turnbull Restoration.
Mr. Selleck’s Winchester 1886, chambered in .45-70, underwent a meticulous restoration process, indeed a rebuilding process, including a number of personal upgrades. The project, detailed in this behind-the-scenes look, showcases the craftsmanship and dedication that went into restoring this piece of firearms history. As a dedicated collector, Selleck’s appreciation for historically significant firearms makes him a perfect modern ambassador for the legacy of John Moses Browning’s masterpiece.
Image: Factory-new Winchester Model 1886, with hand engraving, checkering, and restoration-grade finishes. Visit our gallery for more examples of our finishing work for factory-new firearms.
The Winchester Model 1886 wasn’t just a stronger rifle—it was a game-changer. It paved the way for later, even more powerful lever-actions, including the Model 1892, Model 1894, and Model 1895—all of which were also designed by Browning.
The Model 1886 remained in production until 1935, with nearly 160,000 units manufactured. Today, it’s one of the most sought-after rifles among collectors, especially in its rarer configurations like the musket or early full-stock carbine.
If you’re lucky enough to own an original Model 1886, you’re holding a piece of Winchester’s finest craftsmanship and Browning’s enduring genius. Whether displayed in a collection or taken afield for one last hunt, the 1886 stands as a testament to an era when firearms were built for power, reliability, and timeless beauty.
Image: Restored and upgraded Winchester Model 1886 in .50-110 Winchester.
Whether you’re a Winchester collector, a Browning admirer, or simply a fan of classic American firearms, the Winchester Model 1886 is one of the finest lever-actions ever made. And that’s not just nostalgia talking—that’s history, craftsmanship, and a whole lot of firepower wrapped into one iconic rifle.
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