The included factory letter confirms the rifle was received and shipped on September 23, 1898, as part of order 6666 and confirms it shipped in the current caliber with an extra light 22 inch barrel, half magazine, plain trigger, takedown configuration, shotgun butt, and plain rubber buttplate. The rifle has a standard Lyman ramp front sight with white bead and buckhorn sporting style, rear sight with screw adjustable center insert. The barrel, magazine, forearm cap, bolt and receiver have the Winchester high polish blue finish. The hammer and loading lever are color casehardened. The loading gate is niter blue. The checkered hard rubber buttplate is embossed with the Winchester logo. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the legend: "-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A." in two lines ahead of the rear sight. "45-70," the Winchester oval "W/P" proofmark meaning it was returned to the factory after 1905, and "N.S" are stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. The upper receiver tang is drilled and tapped for a peep sight and is roll-stamped: "-MODEL 1886." The 1884 and 1885 patent dates are stamped in two lines on the lower tang behind the trigger. The serial number is stamped in script behind the rear tang screw.

Fine. The rifle retains 85% plus of the original blue and casehardened finish. With slightly thinning down the length of the barrel and limited circular scratches on the underside of the barrel just in front of the magazine. The takedown collar shows normal handling wear and a thinning blue finish. The bolt and receiver retain 85% of the original high polish blue finish with light high point wear and a few minor scratches. The niter blue loading gate has high point wear but retains 50% of the original nitre blue finish. The hammer retains 80% of the its case colors. Contact points on the loading lever have a silver patina. The shortened refinished buttstock is in very good condition. The forearm is fine. All of the markings are crisp. This is a solid representative example of a .45/70 Winchester Model 1886 Extra Lightweight Takedown Rifle.