Winchester 1886 40-82 cal. made in 1906 on GunBroker

[roughing it]

This one started at 1 cent and is now at $3,500.00 . Any guesses on where its going to end up?
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... m=90891859

[KirkD]

I am very surprised at how high it has gone already. This is a decent '86, but it is in standard configuration and it's still commanding a high price.

[Hobie]

At local shows that gun would likely have a price tag in that neighborhood maybe as much as $3750 to give a bit of wiggle room. There must be demand out there that keeps the avaialble number of guns (or the apparent availability of guns) of this quality down enough that buyers/collectors feel they can justify the cost.

[Mike D.]

Hmmm. I see an average condition early 20th C '86 that in my book should not bring a cent over $2000, but what the heck do I know? Obviously, someone out there really knows his Winchesters.

[Gun Smith]

I think the $3500.00 range would be right for this one. I would call it a 75% gun. My bet is it will go higher- $4000.00?

[win40-82]

The real value with this rifle is the bore. IF the bore is as good as he says it is then I can see it in the mid $4000 range. Finding an 86 that has good finish, which this one seems to have, and an excellent bore are hard to come by. Rifles like this one can be shot a lot and not have to worry about hurting the finish. They seem to be highly sought after in my neck of the woods and bring a premium price.

[3855]

I don't find the price surprising at all... I think it will go higher. Guns in this condition are hard to find and there is a lot of competition out there for them.

[Sixgun]

Sure, the price is right. In the last 5 years, 1886's have gone though the roof. Out of the 160K that were made, how many are left? Thousands have been burned up in fires, shipped overseas, lost, used and abused so they are only parts guns. The ones that are left, what kind of condition do they have? How many are in peoples vaults unwilling to leave?

The 1886 is one of the low production guns that EVERYONE seems to fall in love with. When a person has a nice, somewhat rare gun they are selling, I call it the GFO principle---Go Find One-------------Sixgun

[Mike D.]

After a serious review of this particular '86 I have changed my opinion. The .40-82 is one of the commonest calibers in that model, with some 31,000 produced, but rifles in that apparant condition and of late manufacture, don't often turn up. IF the gun does not reach the $4,000 mark, and I believe it will, then I will bid accordingly. I sincerely wish that this was an Extra Lightweight rifle, but unfortunately it isn't. If that was the case, my interest would be considerably higher and so would the bid.

Is everyone happy with the photos as they are? I seem to see some cold blue touch-up, or is it only my 60+ yr old eyes that do. Is there some finish added to the wood over dings and marrs? Internet gun auction and sales sites seem to have less that clear photos.

[KirkD]

Mike, I took another closer look at it as well. To me, it looks like an honest rifle ... I cannot see anything that looks like cold blue to me (although I could have missed it). The only concern I have is that there appears to be a large 'P' stamped on the upper tang.

[win40-82]

That "P" appears to be in the location of the upper tang screw. The screw probably has some dirt in it or the slot is a bit chewed up.

[KirkD]

That "P" appears to be in the location of the upper tang screw. The screw probably has some dirt in it or the slot is a bit chewed up.

Ah, that makes sense. You are probably quite right. The bids and condition of this '86 are causing me to appreciate my two original '86's in a whole new light. '86's seem to be appreciating beyond my ability to acquire any more. Too bad I didn't make an effort to get a few more 3 or 4 years ago.

[win40-82]

Kirk, you're right on with the time line of when the prices started to jump. Ones that I thought were to high at $2500 are now $4000+. At the Vegas show it nothing to see them in the $10,000 and up range. Two years ago I turned one down very similar to this one for $2700, the bad part about it was I had enough in my pocket to make the deal. The Model 76 is doing the same thing.

[win40-82]

The winning bid was $4102.00. A little short of what I thought could be high bid but not bad for a rifle that you couldn't hold and inspect. If it was a good price will depend on an accurate description of the bore. If it was accurated then not a bad price. The seller had a very good rating so hope the new owner get a good one.

[roughing it]

The winning bid was $4102.00. A little short of what I thought could be high bid but not bad for a rifle that you couldn't hold and inspect. If it was a good price will depend on an accurate description of the bore. If it was accurated then not a bad price. The seller had a very good rating so hope the new owner get a good one.

I have bought two rifles and a revolver from this seller and the description of the ones I got were very accurate. One was a Winchester 1886 45-70 takedown made in 1909 (rebored from 33 WCF) and also a first generation Colt SAA 45 made in 1920 with a replaced front sight and new trigger. Individual cost for these was under $1k in the past year so I think I got a pretty good deal. I thought both would go higher - just depends on who is looking and bidding.