The Winchester Model 1887 shotgun is without a doubt an iconic weapon. The shotgun has an unusual design and operating principle, and is recognizable. This model has not lost its popularity for more than 120 years.
The Winchester 1887 Lever was released in 1897 and has remained popular ever since. This is not the first, but the most sought-after Henry brace gun, which was developed by the legendary gunsmith John Browning at the request of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
Despite the fact that in those years the first shotguns with a sliding fore-end were already appearing, the Browning company developed and began to produce the Winchester 1887, without departing from its traditions.
It's sad, but nowadays it's almost impossible to find an original Winchester 1887 shotgun, because the last copies produced are over a hundred years old.
The Winchester Model 1887 was bought by hunters, postal workers, and police officers, but it was never possible to achieve the same number of sales as the rifled models. As Browning predicted, as soon as guns with moving fore-ends and pump-action guns appeared, sales of the 1887 model dropped sharply.
According to the manufacturer, in just 14 years of production of Browning 1887, about 65 thousand units were produced. Henry brace shotguns were discontinued after 1920.
General description of the Winchester 1887 shotgun
The Winchester m1887 was a smoothbore weapon equipped with an under-barrel tubular magazine, an exposed hammer, and a Henry brace as the loading mechanism.
Winchester stood out for its unusual appearance. The Henry brace gave it a certain sophistication that many gun aficionados still enjoy today. The weapon looks especially impressive with a bent bracket. This is how people remember him.
The Winchester 1887 model was used by both civilians and police. Railroad and postal services also created additional demand.
Increased security made it possible to store and transport the shotgun even fully equipped with cartridges. There will be no accidental shots, and in case of danger, the weapon is very quickly prepared to fire.
The design of the gun, as well as the use of 12-gauge black powder cartridges, were not to everyone’s taste. The window for loading and ejecting the cartridge case is located at the top of the receiver. This gun has a relatively small swing action. Protection against an accidental shot when the bolt is unlocked is very simple - there is a small protrusion on the back of the trigger that rests against the bracket when the bolt is unlocked.
The use of black powder cartridges prompted manufacturers to modernize the hard drive. The Winchester 1901 was created, which differed from its predecessor by using smokeless powder cartridges and reducing the caliber. This model used 10 gauge. No further significant differences were observed. The Winchester 1901 shotgun has become more widespread, which is associated primarily with the unusual caliber of the weapon.
Links[edit]
- ^ abc Kirkland, K. D. (2007). America's Best Gunsmiths: Winchester
. East Bridgewater, MA: JG Press World Publishing Group. paragraph 64. ISBN 1-57215-104-8. OCLC 220935084. - ^ abc Shideler, Dan (August 7, 2011). "Winchester 1887". Gun Digest 2012. Iola, WI: Gun Digest Books. pp. 167–173. ISBN 1-4402-1447-6.
- ^ abcd Adler, Dennis (November 10, 2015). Winchester rifles. New York: Skyhorse Publishing. pp. 88–90. ISBN 978-1-5107-0924-9.
- Flayderman, Norms (December 17, 2007). Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms and Their Values. Iola, WI: F+W Media, Inc., pp. 321–322. ISBN 0-89689-455-X.
- ^ ab Sadowski, Robert A. (October 27, 2015). The Gun Dealer's Guide to Shotguns: A Comprehensive, Fully Illustrated Guide to Modern Shotguns with Current Market Prices. Skyhorse Publishing. pp. 47–48. ISBN 978-1-63450-965-7.
How Winchester 1887 works
The principle of operation of the Winchester is similar to the operation of similar smoothbore shotguns equipped with a Henry bracket.
In order to load the gun, you need to move the Henry brace in the direction of the muzzle. Ammunition is inserted into the opened magazine. Next, the bracket returns to its original position, simultaneously cocking the hammer, as well as chambering the cartridge from the feeder into the chamber. The lever system rises up and is in line. From below, the entire system is supported by the Henry bracket itself. At this time, the bolt is fixed at the breech of the barrel, and the next cartridge is pushed out of the magazine into the feeder.
After pressing the trigger, the hammer strikes the bolt piston, which in turn strikes the primer. A shot is fired.
It is worth noting that fully charging the magazine can take quite a lot of time. But manufacturers have provided the possibility of accelerated charging. The essence of this method is to independently place one cartridge in the chamber and the other on the feed tray. After closing the staple, two shots can be fired immediately.
The cartridge from the magazine does not jump out onto the feed tray until the shooter squeezes the trigger. The trigger is open, with a safety cock. The shotgun can be safely stored with a cartridge in the chamber. The Model 1887 shotgun is fed with cartridges from an under-barrel tubular magazine.
An open trigger allows you to carry a weapon with a cartridge inside the chamber without fear of spontaneous firing. You just need to manually cock this trigger.
The total length of the weapon is 997 mm, barrel length is 508 or 813 mm, weight is 3.6 kg, magazine capacity is 5 rounds. This weapon became a milestone in the development of multi-shot repeating smoothbore shotguns.
History of creation and description of weapons
who have nothing to do with weapons know about Winchester And fans of shooting and hunting know this rifle like the back of their hand. It is still popular due to its successful design and unpretentiousness. The Barrett sniper rifle and the Mosin carbine also stand out for their unpretentiousness.
Of course, modernized Winchester models are currently being produced, but many design elements of the first rifles of this type and the traditions of the manufacturers are taken as a basis. And the design of the weapon is truly original and interesting, which is why it has been produced for a century and a half.
Pistol “Volcanic”
The predecessor of the Winchester was the Volcanic, a pistol produced by . Designer Benjamin Henry used it as the basis for a new rifle, which was equipped with a new bolt and reloading system, a tubular mechanism under the barrel and a lever-brace.
The company went bankrupt in the late 1850s. He was bought by Oliver Winchester, who gave Henry the opportunity to produce new weapons on a larger scale. At that time it was still called Volcanic. The inscription “Winchester” appeared only in 1866. See photo.
The new name also led to changes in the design of the gun. Thus, the cartridge supply system has changed. Now they had to be loaded not through the barrel, but through the side window of the magazine, which was reduced to 12 rounds (in the Volcanic there are 15 bullets). This made it possible to speed up the recharging process. Henry kept the 44-caliber cartridges from the previous model.
The first models of these weapons were very popular due to their high rate of fire. Winchester could fire 1 round per second, which was a real breakthrough for that time. But the cartridges of that time had a ring ignition system, which was already being replaced by a central one. It is also worth reading material about the characteristics of the SVDK, which is considered one of the most popular rifles.
Design Features
The Winchester m1887 shotgun had a relatively small receiver, which increased the convenience of the design. For shooting, 12 gauge cartridges with black powder were used. Loading and ejection of the cartridge case was carried out through the upper part of the receiver, with a special hole for these purposes. The small size of the shutter also did not interfere with operation. The empty cartridge case was not only thrown up, but also twisted.
Winchester 1887 was distinguished by increased security. An unlocked bolt, through a special bracket, prohibited the full range of movement of the trigger. The trigger also had some features. On the back there was a small protrusion that rested against this very bracket. Thus, the possibility of an accidental shot was completely neutralized.
Sales of these guns were hit by the appearance of a large number of models with a longitudinally sliding loading principle. The strongest competitor was the trench Winchester M1897, which became the market leader in pump-action shotguns.
Models and specifications
Winchester 1873 rifle
Due to changes in ammunition, Winchester modernized his gun. This is how the Model 1873 was born, which became a true symbol of American Westerns.
The dimensions of the previous model were completely preserved, and the magazine could hold from 12 to 17 rounds. This weapon was popular among civilians, although it was originally produced for the needs of the army. But it was not adopted for service due to the lightweight 10.2 mm cartridge, which could not provide sufficient power to the rifle.
In this video they will tell you the history of the Winchester arms company.
But ordinary people have been purchasing this gun for half a century both as a means of self-defense and as a weapon for hunting. If you like to hunt, then you should watch a video of pneumatics for hunting without a license.
“The gun that conquered the West” was the name of the very popular Winchester 1873 rifle. It fed cartridges through a window in the receiver.
The box itself, which was previously made of brass, has now become metal, which has increased the reliability of the gun. In 1919, production of the Winchester 1873 was discontinued. See also the review of the American sniper rifle here.
Winchester 1887
Another fairly popular model of those times was the Winchester 1887, which was produced until 1920. Its developer was the famous designer John Browning.
He retained the lever mechanism of the device, making it even faster and more reliable. The length of the weapon was 997 mm, and it weighed 3.6 kg.
The magazine could hold 5–8 charges. Winchester 1887 was inferior in popularity to its predecessor, but the demand for it was good, which is why it was produced for more than 30 years. The Mosin sniper rifle is also considered a long-liver in terms of production, about it here.
Winchester 1894
Winchester 1894 is a true symbol for hunters of several generations. This model of gun was produced for more than a century, because it enjoyed great success among hunting enthusiasts. Its designer was also Browning. You will learn a lot of interesting things about hunting with pneumatics at this address.
The gun retained the lever cocking mechanism, despite the abundance of pump-action weapons at that time. The lever became a kind of symbol of the Winchester company. The tubular magazine could hold 5 - 6 rounds.
The weapon weighed just over 3 kilograms and was 960 mm long. The gun was so popular that during its release, sales amounted to more than 7 million. This is an absolute record among all types of firearms in the United States.
In this video you will be told about the history of the creation of the Winchester 1894 weapon.
It is noteworthy that millions of Winchesters of this model were given to the presidents of the country. New to this gun is the use of smokeless 30-30 cartridges.
In addition to them, other ammunition could be used. Winchester 1894 was distinguished by its unpretentiousness and durability. Based on these criteria, it is worth mentioning the Remington rifle, more on it later.
It was made from reliable materials that ensured a long service life of the gun, and with proper care it can be considered indestructible. Mass production of this model ceased only about 10 years ago.
Winchester 1897 (gauge 12)
Browning produced not only lever-action shotguns, but also pump-action shotguns. A striking illustration of this is the Winchester 1897. This weapon was reloaded in a traditional way for a pump-action mechanism: by moving the forend.
But this model had other differences from its predecessors. It featured a trigger mechanism with an open trigger, which is another Browning innovation. Thanks to this system, it was possible to walk through the forest for a long time in search of game, keeping the cartridges cocked.
This made it possible to shoot instantly. The 12 gauge made it possible to shoot game of different sizes, and the magazine held 5 rounds. The dimensions of the gun were quite large: 997 mm in length, and weight - 3.6 kg.
The effective firing range of the Winchester 1897 was about 40 m. This weapon was discontinued in the late 1950s, having sold more than a million units. Historically, the English Boer rifle is in no way inferior to the Winchester.
Shotgun Winchester 1912
The Winchester 1912 is the next model in this famous series of shotguns. It was designed by Thomas Johnson. He significantly changed many details of the 1897 model, and the design of the Winchester rifle was redesigned. For example, the receiver was no longer open, and the open trigger also disappeared.
The very principle of locking ammunition in weapons has been changed. The magazine no longer used latches; cartridges entered it freely and were not retained. This was somewhat inconvenient, since when filling the magazine with another ammunition, you had to make sure that the previous one did not fall out. It was possible to use cartridges of different calibers: from 12 to 28 with different types of cartridges. Watch the video:
The store held 5 ammunition. There were two ways to reload the gun. His trump card was also his extraordinary strength. All parts were made of hardened steel, so the Winchester 1912 cannot be denied reliability.
In terms of quality, Gamo’s products are not far behind; for comparison, see the review of the Gamo tsf 20 air rifle.
Do you know what the longest firing range of a sniper rifle is? More on that later.
For a detailed review of the Ataman air rifle, see: https://pwpn.ru/p-oruzhie/brendy/ataman-2.html
It was used not only during wars (including world wars), but also in hunting and sports. This shotgun was produced for half a century, more than 2 million people bought it, which indicates its high popularity.
Advantages and disadvantages of Winchester Model 1887
First, let's look at the advantages of this gun:
- Original and ergonomic design, very attractive to many.
- Reliable design that does not fail when shooting.
- Convenient shape and dimensions.
- Easy to operate and use.
- Popular 12 gauge.
There are also disadvantages:
- The magazine cannot be reloaded while in use.
- Use of black powder cartridges.
- Some parts are rare.
- The cost is high.
Originals and replicas
The Winchester m1887 smoothbore shotgun was not the most popular gun from the famous arms company, but one of the most significant. The appearance of this particular model prompted developers to modernize the designs of their weapons. The unusual recharging scheme made a significant contribution to its popularization and distribution.
The spectacular appearance and impressive history still makes a large number of people look for all kinds of analogues.
Naturally, they cannot convey the entire atmosphere that surrounds this fragment of a bygone era. You can feel all the flavor contained in it only by using a real Winchester 1887 for its intended purpose.
Despite some controversial issues in the design of the shotgun, it was still able to achieve cult status. But the excessively high cost forced almost all manufacturers to stop producing the Winchester model 1887.
However, connoisseurs can still buy Winchester m1887 from Chiappa, which produces replicas of antique weapons. The products of this company are professionally assembled, luxuriously designed and expensive. But if the gun is planned to be used, then a better solution cannot be found. The manufacturer creates not only basic models, but also various collectible ones, with chrome-plated parts or the use of precious wood. Chinese copies of the gun, which have a set of parts that are interchangeable with the original, deserve special attention.
The cult weapon has never been in Russia, and it is unlikely that it will appear in the near future. It’s not easy to find it in America either. Winchester 1887 has long been out of production due to extremely high costs, and not all enterprises can master replicas. Each surviving copy is worthy of admiration.
Made over a hundred years ago, the weapon is a true collector's delight. Excellent fit and fit of parts, simple mechanism, it is clear that the manufacturer treated its customers with love and respect. The guns were made with several generations of users in mind, without any simplification or reduction in cost.
Of course, such weapons are not bought for hunting or even for self-defense. It is taken for pleasure and to decorate collections. Who didn’t want, as a child or youth, after watching “Terminator 2”, to have a gun like the hero of the film? As already noted, it’s not easy to find it in Russia, but if you really want it, you can look for Chiappa.
The quality of the company's guns is not inferior to the original, and often surpasses it in finishing. There are options in walnut and with chrome parts - such a gun looks both original and impressive.
The advantages of replicas include their lower cost and greater strength. In addition, replicas are produced in the 12-gauge that is common today, while to this day most 10-gauge guns have been well preserved.
Although the original Winchesters were made with high quality, we must not forget that the youngest of them are more than 95 years old, and the 12-gauge shotguns are even older - 115, and most of the examples were actively used throughout this time. If you plan to shoot the gun regularly, buying a replica is more than justified.
Winchester - the weapon that conquered the West, a pump-action shotgun
The Winchester rifle is one of the most popular and well-known types of firearms for hunting and self-defense in popular culture. The rifle owes its popularization not only to its fighting qualities, but also to Westerns, where this particular weapon occupied a central place. It's not just old films that turn to this type of rifle. For example, in the hands of the heroes of modern films “Russian Gambit” and “Terminator 2” you can also see a Winchester. Even a disk drive for transferring files from a computer is named after the rifle! Further in the article: full description and technical characteristics of the rifles.
