{"product_id":"original-u-s-winchester-model-1887-lever-action-10-gauge-shotgun-with-special-order-32-barrel-serial-no-47934-manufactured-1892","title":"Original U.S. Winchester Model 1887 Lever-Action 10-Gauge Shotgun with Special Order 32\" Barrel - Serial No. 47934 - Manufactured 1892","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. \u003cstrong\u003eThis is a very appealing frontier-used example of the Winchester Model 1887, one of the earliest commercially successful repeating shotguns and one of the most distinctive firearms designed by John Browning.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChambered in the formidable 10-gauge cartridge and fitted with a \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003especial order 32-inch barrel\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, this example has the imposing proportions, deeply aged walnut, and honest service patina associated with a shotgun that saw decades of practical use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Model 1887 emerged from Winchester’s effort to carry its famous lever-action identity into the rapidly developing repeating-shotgun market. Winchester had built its reputation around lever-action rifles and wanted its first successful repeating shotgun to operate in the same familiar manner. John Browning designed the action, and the Model 1887 was introduced commercially in 1887.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough Browning would later become closely associated with slide-action and self-loading shotguns, the Model 1887 remains one of his most mechanically recognizable creations. Its large operating lever lowers the breechblock, ejects the fired shell, raises a fresh round from the carrier, and closes the action in a single sweeping movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe shotgun’s combination of a tubular magazine, exposed hammer, substantial receiver, and oversized lever gave it an unmistakable appearance unlike any other repeating shotgun of its era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSerial number \u003cstrong\u003e47934\u003c\/strong\u003e dates this example to \u003cstrong\u003e1892\u003c\/strong\u003e, placing it squarely within the classic black-powder production period and making it a federally classified pre-1899 antique.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe serial number is marked: \u003cstrong\u003e47934\u003c\/strong\u003e. The chamber is very faintly marked: 10. This confirms the desirable 10-gauge chambering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 10-gauge Model 1887 was the largest and most powerful version of the original design. Guns of this type were well suited to waterfowling, market hunting, farm protection, and other demanding work where the heavy payload of a large-bore shotgun was considered an advantage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example is fitted with a special order 32-inch barrel, a highly desirable configuration that gives the shotgun exceptional proportions and added collector appeal. The extra barrel length would have been particularly useful for long-range waterfowling and other field use where a longer sighting plane was preferred. The barrel is fitted with a small brass bead front sight. Rather than a separate rear sight, the shotgun uses the shallow sighting groove formed along the upper front portion of the receiver.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left side of the receiver retains the intertwined Winchester Repeating Arms Company monogram: \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eW R A Co. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eThe marking remains relatively crisp despite the overall surface wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe upper receiver tang is clearly marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMANUFACTURED BY THE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAT. FEB. 16 \u0026amp; JULY 20. 1886.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe patent dates relate to the action and operating system developed for the Model 1887.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe shotgun retains its original-style walnut buttstock and forearm. Both have developed the deep reddish-brown color characteristic of well-aged, oil-finished American walnut. The buttstock has an integral pistol-grip profile and retains its factory-pattern checkered steel buttplate. The wood shows the dents, scratches, compression marks, and edge wear expected from a shotgun that saw prolonged service. Some portions of the grain appear slightly raised, possibly indicating past exposure to moisture. The underside of the comb shows repaired cracking and areas of old wood filler. The repairs appear stable but are visible and form part of the shotgun’s long service history. The forearm displays heavier use and handling wear. Additional wood-filler repairs are visible on the right side. Neither stock component should be considered high-condition, but both remain solid and give the shotgun an attractive, authentic working-gun appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe metalwork has lost nearly all of its original factory finish. The receiver, barrel, magazine, and operating components now display a mottled gray and brown patina with scattered oxidation and darker staining.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is some pitting on the upper surface of the barrel near the chamber. This indicates that the shotgun was exposed to moisture or corrosive black-powder residue and was not always cleaned promptly during its working life. No major active rust is presently noted, but the metal surfaces retain extensive age and service wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bore is unobstructed and partly bright. It shows old powder fouling, staining, oxidation, and scattered roughness throughout, consistent with extensive use with black-powder shotgun ammunition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMechanically, the lever action cycles correctly and produces a crisp dry-fire release. The hammer, breechblock, carrier, and major operating parts appear to move as intended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tubular magazine is present, but the feeding system has not been tested with ammunition. No representation is made regarding its ability to chamber or feed live shells.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Winchester Model 1887 was eventually overtaken by more practical slide-action shotguns, particularly Winchester’s Browning-designed Model 1897. The pump-action system was easier to operate from the shoulder and better suited to the increasingly popular smokeless-powder shotgun cartridges of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNevertheless, the Model 1887 occupies a unique place in firearms history. It represents Winchester’s determination to apply its signature lever action to nearly every category of repeating arm and demonstrates Browning’s ability to adapt the system to the very different requirements of a shotgun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe design has also become an icon of popular culture, most famously through its appearance in \u003cem\u003eTerminator 2: Judgment Day\u003c\/em\u003e, although the movie shotgun was heavily shortened and modified.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example remains far closer to the Model 1887’s original purpose: a long-barreled, heavy 10-gauge repeating shotgun built for serious field use during the final decades of the American frontier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts exterior wear, repaired stocks, oxidized barrel, and used bore make clear that this was no presentation gun. It is an honest working example that survived more than 130 years with its major components intact and its remarkable lever-action mechanism still functioning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWith its desirable 10-gauge chambering, special order 32-inch barrel, clear Winchester markings, 1892 production date, and unmistakable frontier character, this is a compelling example of one of John Browning’s most inventive and visually dramatic firearms.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA distinctive centerpiece for a collection of early Winchester arms, Browning designs, repeating shotguns, or firearms of the American frontier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1892\u003cbr\u003eManufacturer: Winchester Repeating Arms Company\u003cbr\u003eModel: 1887\u003cbr\u003eSerial Number: 47934\u003cbr\u003eGauge: 10 Gauge\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Shotgun Shell\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: Special Order 32\"\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 49\"\u003cbr\u003eAction: Lever-Action Repeater\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: Tubular Magazine\u003cbr\u003eFederal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Winchester Model 1887 (Dellosso Shotgun) is a lever-action shotgun originally designed by famed American gun designer John Browning and produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company during the late 19th century. It was a black-powder design, and was replaced by the similar Model 1901, which was designed to handle smokeless powder, but was otherwise identical.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Model 1887 was one of the first successful repeating shotguns. Its lever-action design was chosen at the behest of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, best known at the time as manufacturers of lever-action rifles such as the Winchester Model 1873. Designer John Browning suggested that a pump-action would be much more appropriate for a repeating shotgun, but Winchester management's position was that, at the time, the company was known as a \"lever-action firearm company\", and felt that their new shotgun must also be a lever-action for reasons of brand recognition. Browning responded by designing a breech-loading, rolling block lever-action. To Winchester's credit, however, they later introduced a Browning designed pump-action shotgun known as the Model 1893 (an early production version of the model 1897), after the introduction of smokeless powder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShotgun shells at the time used black powder as a propellant, and so the Model 1887 shotgun was designed and chambered for less powerful black powder shotshells. Both 10 and 12-gauge models were offered in the Model 1887; 12-gauge variants used a 2 5\/8\" shell, 10-gauge variants fired a 2 7\/8\" shell. The standard barrel length was 30\" with 32\" available as a special order. In 1888 a 20\" barrelled version could be ordered and Winchester offered the shotguns with Damascus barrels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTE: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are not able to ship to the United Kingdom. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45344889405509,"sku":"ONJR26MAA008","price":1895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/C5F0D97E-BF74-489E-B899-E656EC658776.jpg?v=1783976219","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-winchester-model-1887-lever-action-10-gauge-shotgun-with-special-order-32-barrel-serial-no-47934-manufactured-1892","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}