Non Ruger Ques - Winchester Model 1886 Takedown .33 caliber

[Mr. Popping Bug]

Need your help guys. I have a Winchester Model 1886 .33 Lightweight Takedown rifle with a round barrel in pretty good shape. I found a website that had a date range for the S/N, which indicates it was manufactured in 1907. Here's my problem - The Cody Firearms Museum does not have any records for the range of serial numbers that Model 1886 rifle falls in. I wanted to get a factory letter, but that's not going to happen. Is there any other website, dealer, resource, person, etc. that might have some info on this rifle by S/N? I'd like to research it back as far as I can go. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Trey Whitley]

Unfortunately, no.

I have been a collector of 1886's for many years (exclusively deluxe & odd variations of the 33 WCF for several years of that time...now just extra lights) and I've put together a fairly significant database of verified serial numbers and dates into the warehouse. If your rifle is circa 1907, and Cody doesn't have information on it, that would be unusual. The big losses in 1886 records start with late 1909 production.

Send me your serial number, or the first 5 digits, and I can get you close to the right production period. Let me know if you have any special order features besides the takedown and we might be able to dig up some information directly from the rifle if you're capable of being nice & patient with a quality set of gunsmith screwdrivers.

Also- though commonly referred to as "lightweights", Winchester never referred to the 33's this way. The .45-70 version was called an "extra light" by Winchester, but the 33 WCF was simply referred to as the 33 WCF. (I'm not trying to be a jackass about the terminology...everyone has called these lightweights for years and most people just don't realize the original terminology was different).

 

[southpaw13]

I also have an Winchester 1886 .33WCF that I know very little about. It is not a take down model and the serial number is 1313xx any help in its lineage would be appreciated.

 

[Trey Whitley]

The 131,000 SN range should be mid to late 1904, and BBHC should have records on it. The solid-frame 33's are actually less common than the takedowns, but unless you have some special order features the letter probably doesn't add any value.

 

[Mr. Popping Bug]

The S/N 14613*.

 

[Trey Whitley]

That makes more sense as a "missing records" rifle...the 146,000 SN range would be circa 1910. Since it's a takedown, you can easily pull the forearm off and take a look at the various stamps that are on the barrel. If you could get a photo of those marks, I can translate them for you and possibly confirm the year.

If the rifle's in standard configuration for a 33 WCF (1/2 magazine, shotgun butt, and 24-inch barrel) there probably won't be any special fitter's marks or assembly numbers. If the configuration is different, you'll have a bunch of "extra" stamps on the lower tang and various other parts that might be helpful.

 

[Mr. Popping Bug]

Some more info: on the inside of the upper tang is a small "c" in a circle, along with a number "1" in a triangle with a "6" or "9" next to the triangle, on the inside of the lower tang is a number "1" in a triangle and a number "32" next to it, behind the trigger on the lower tang is "pat. Oct. 14, 1884 Jane. 20 1885", on the top fo the upper tang is "Model 1886 Winchester Trade Mark Reg. in U.S. Pat. Off.", on the outside of the lever on the end of the magazine tube is "Pat. June 6, 1893" and a number "35" on the inside of the lever itself, and finally, there is the combination "P" and "W" mark in an oval on the front top portion of the upper receiver and on the top of barrel closest to the receiver behind the rear sight. Does this help?

 

[Trey Whitley]

The circled "C" is for the material the receiver was made from: Bessemer soft steel from the Crucible Steel Company. "Triangled 1's" are general inspection marks. In the location you describe, the 6 or 9 would likely be the mark of the assembler who fit & adjusted the hammer & trigger; the number "32" is for the assembler who fit the stock, buttplate, and forend wood. The other marks are standard Winchester Proof and the correct tang/mag tube marks for the period.

 

[Mr. Popping Bug]

Thanks for the info. I really wanted to get one of the factory letters for this rifle, but I guess I'm out of luck on that. I've got a few full boxes of ammo for the rifle and a few other pieces of period hunting related memrobilia to go with it. Overall a nice little package. Thanks again for the help.

 

[Trey Whitley]

You're welcome. The 1886 Extra Lights and 33's are a passion of mine...hard to imagine a better open-sight hunting rifle. If the boxes of ammo are original, I'd sell them and buy some newly-made stuff from Quality Cartridge or someone like them: the original ammo up through the 1950's brings some good money.