We found this old rifle sticking about 6 inches out of the dirt at an old abandoned homestead on our ranch. Any ideas as what it is?

I'm going to guess: 86 Winchester.

I would bet old Winchester as well. Very cool

Very nice find.

86 has been tossed around a lot. We are taken it to a antique dealer who thanks he can positively identify it for sure.I just wish it could talk. LOL

cool find keep us updated

Neat find!

I'm going against the grain and saying Marlin. It's really hard to tell though.

Dakota, what part of Texas you live in? Dallas and Houston each have a great place to see whatcha got.

Collectors Firearms: Houstom, amazing place.
Jackson Arms: Dallas

What a cool find. I'm guessing Winchester.

It's a lever gun.

You're welcome.

Cook find, hard to tell which lever action it is but my agree with Riverrider that is an 86 from the pics. Something for scale could help. Let us know what you find out.

If that rifle could talk some things it might say

Oil please
I lost my butt, butt stock that is.

What a great find!!!

It hurts my soul to see any gun that was discarded or forgotten like a piece of trash. It's no different than ignoring a fine dog that served its master all its life. It should be always respected for the value it delivered to its owner.

Sadly, some folks just don't deserve the right to own guns or dogs.

looks like a Model '94 to me.

Take a pic of the locking lugs at the top rear of the receiver. It's either an 86 (what I'm betting) or a 94.

I'm noting the location of the pin in the receiver just forward and a little above the loading port. AFAIK, only the 86 had the pin right there. But I'm still not positive.

I think an 86 as well. It would be interesting if there was still a cartridge in the chamber.

I think you are assuming too much. Nobody knows how or why that rifle ended up where it did.

JCB, my thoughts also.

Soooo... where are the pics to really identify the rifle?

As far as I can tell, the bottom of the receiver is solid, which means 1886.

that is so cool!

you didn't find any bones with it did you?

It could have been in a house fire.

Agree with Keith. Especially with no stock left. Most likely was in a house or barn fire and covered up when the dozed the remains. Folks just don't throw away rifles.

Pretty harsh statement when you have no idea what the story is.

I agree with Winchester 86. Very cool find.

Even worse is I believe he is the guy that bragged about throwing his American Flag in the garbage a few years ago. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

No need to correct me. I looked it up and I am correct.

Looks like a 92 or 94.

Loading gate too big for a 92.

A little more background for you guys. This was found on our ranch that my family purchased in 1978 and is about 5 miles from where my family originally homesteaded on the Little Missouri River in the late 1800s in Northwest South Dakota. It is about 7 miles from Camp Crook South Dakota. That is were Gen. George Crook wintered with his men and horses while fighting Indians. He was supposed to meet up with Gen. Armstrong Custer to help at the Little Bighorn Battle. My nephew that found it is the 7th generation of my family that has lived in this county. The old homestead is in the side of a bank on a draw. We are going to the courthouse to see who might of homesteaded there and if there are any records to help piece it together.

I am also in touch with some experts from the Cody, Wyoming rifle Museum.

Here is a reply from the Cody, Wyoming gun museum.

Hi Randy;


It appears to be a Winchester Model 1886 rifle. The serial number would be on the lower tang between the end of the finger lever and the screw hole at the end of the lower tang. If it is a later version, the serial number was stamped deeper and in block numbers. It may be readable after a little clean-up.



The Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Repeating Rifle was manufactured from 1886 until 1935, with a total of 159,994 produced. Winchester developed this model for the use of the more powerful centerfire cartridges that were being produced at the time. The Model 1886 was produced in 10 different chamberings: .45-70 U. S. Government, .45-90 W.C.F., .40-82 W.C.F. (in 1886); .40-65 W.C.F., .38-56 W.C.F., .50-110 Express (in 1887); .40-70 W.C.F., .38-70 W.C.F. (in 1894); .50-110-450 (in 1895); and .33 W.C.F. (in 1903). The most popular caliber was the .45-70 Gov’t.



The Model 1886 was the first repeating rifle of John M. and Matthew S. Browning design to be adopted by Winchester. That design, and subsequent modifications by William Mason of Winchester, made it a vast improvement over the Model 1876. There were several variations: sporting rifle, fancy sporting rifle, takedown rifle, extra lightweight takedown rifle, extra lightweight rifle, carbine and musket.



The Model 1886 had a walnut stock, case hardened frame, and blued barrel and magazine tube. Winchester discontinued the case hardened frame on all of their rifles in 1901 and used blued frames instead. Factory options were available at extra cost. Standard barrel lengths were; rifles 26 inches, carbines 22 inches, and muskets 30 inches. Extra lightweight rifles in .45-70 were standard with a round rapid taper 22 inch barrel. Rifles in 33 W.C.F. were standard with a rapid taper, round barrel, 24 inches long.



The early Model 1886’s had the serial number stamped lightly into the lower tang. These serial numbers had a tendency to wear off if the gun was well used. Around serial number 120,000 the numbers were stamped deeper into the lower tang and the wear on the tang was not such an issue. The Model 1886 had a detachable lower tang and if the gun was returned to the factory for repair and the lower tang was replaced, the replacement tangs did not have a serial number on them. As a result, it is possible to have a Model 1886 with no serial number.

Good place to reach out to for information.

Contrary to a few beliefs I think this has been as awesome thread. That is a really cool find

Open forums are just that, an opportunity to post comments that come to mind during a discussion. They are often not directed at the person or motives of those started a discussion, nor should they be. They are what comes to mind not because of who made a comment or why they made it, but only because what a person read or observed has brought a related thought to mind.

It was a cool find no doubt.

so, did you clean the tang? can you see the SN?

you got me into this find

I have not yet but plan on trying to find the serial number.

I was able to find the serial number and it was made in 1889.

my Dad came in from the field (back in the 50's) receiver was the only thing left, most likely a Winchester, he found it in the middle of 320 acres that he was farming, the closest homestead was over 2 miles away, I was only about 10 or 11, wish I had known to keep it.
these points were found by my Dad & GrandDad when they were still farming with horse's and mules, just a few years ago I found out that there was an Indian campsite only about 3/4 of mile from our place. south of Kalvesta, Ks.

Very nice relics rifle and arrow heads.

That is awesome

wish it could talk

Yessir.

Heck yes. Can only imagine the stories.

I received the certified letter back from the Cody, Wyoming Museum.

The caliber is 38/56
The barrel type is octagon.
The trigger is plain.
Received in warehouse on February 12, 1890 and shipped from the warehouse on February 26, 1890.
Order number 9583.
No other information was available for this serial number.

They couldn't tell you if it is a Winchester or a Marlin rifle?

READ the thread and you'll know the answer.

Oooppps...I'm bad....

Awesome thread.

I would do electrolosis on it if it were mine.

Pretty easy process and will get the rust off pretty quick.

I do this for stuff I find on my land, old Ax heads etc that I find with my metal detector.

I'd do the same then seal it with beeswax......make a neat wall hanger....

Any chance it still has rounds in it?