The included factory letter confirms the rifle was originally chambered for .40-82 and had a special order 30 inch long octagon barrel with sporting leaf sight (notch and folding ladder), and plain trigger and also indicates the rifle was received on April 4, 1889, and shipped the same day with three other Model 1886 rifles in order 20295. The current 30 inch barrel has a German silver blade front sight, notch and folding ladder rear sight, standard address and patent markings, and is stamped ".45-70 W.C.F." at the breech. The Winchester Model 1886 was the first lever action designed by John M. Browning, and the popular Model 1892 was based on the same design but scaled down for smaller cartridges. The Model 1886 was very popular and could handle everything from .33 W.C.F. to large .50 caliber express cartridges making it one of the best firearms for big game hunting in its day. They also saw limited military use even into WWI when they were used with incendiary ammunition against German airships by the British Royal Flying Corps.