1886 smith?

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I have a nice Chiappa 1886 that I am thinking needs a minor action job.   The action itself is smooth and workable, but it's a little "heavy" and stiff in spots.   I am not interested in turning it into a race gun, just having it be more smooth, like a real vintage Winchester.

I did check with a local well known 92 smith, knowing that they are essentially the same thing, just one is bigger than the other, but he said he doesn't work on 86's.   
Can anyone recommend someone?

[Griff]

My '86 is a 1st year production Browning.  The only thing I did  was disassemble it and use some crocus cloth for polishing.  Not to remove any metal, but to polish off the sharp edges of outside corners.  It ain't as slick as a 120 year old Winchester, but slicker than it was new!

Edited March 2 by Griff

[Sedalia Dave]

21 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

I have a nice Chiappa 1886 that I am thinking needs a minor action job.   The action itself is smooth and workable, but it's a little "heavy" and stiff in spots.   I am not interested in turning it into a race gun, just having it be more smooth, like a real vintage Winchester.

I did check with a local well known 92 smith, knowing that they are essentially the same thing, just one is bigger than the other, but he said he doesn't work on 86's.   
Can anyone recommend someone?

 

The internals of an 1886 are nothing like the internals of a 92. They are even differences betweens the manufacturers. 

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

86 is much more complicated than a scaled up 92

[WymoreWrangler SASS 46187L]

Run N Iron, Bertand Nebraska does all my smithing, he is a genuis on all types of guns...

[Kid Rich]

I have an original 86 and it is stiff to operate and much more complicated than a 92 for disassembly/reassembly.

kR

[Cinch]

I have had guys bring their 86’s to me for reassembly. My 71 is just as fun when all torn down.

 

put some good gun grease on/in the lug recesses and the ejector. Buff the hammer, grease bolt bottom. Buff the lever screw and oil it. 

 

Hunting rifles need their strong and speedy hammer fall. Enjoy your big lever gun.

[Trailrider #896]

FWIW, the M71 is just an '86 except for the locking lugs and the breechblock are at a slight angle, creating a wedging action, rather than the vertical surfaces of the '86. The other difference is that the ejector on an '86 forms the lower half of the firing pin opening, whereas on a 71, the ejector is smaller so that the firing pin is completely enclosed.  If an '86's ejector breaks off and the shooter doesn't notice it, and chambers and fires another round, the primer can back out of the case. allowing a sprinkling of gas to hit the shooter's forehead! Fortunately, the breechblock is formed so that it deflects such gases upward, away from the shooter's eyes (shooting glasses should be worn anyway).  This occurred when I was using pretty stiff loads in a .45-70 '86. I had previously purchased two sets of M71 breechblocks and locking lugs, and had them installed in two late '86 receivers. Just a matter of getting the headspace right, which a competant smith should be able to do. The M71 angled locking does make for a little "feel" on the last few degrees as the action is closed, but not bad, and you can get used to it very easily. Not sure where you could get the M71 block/lugs nowadays, however. 

[Cinch]

The .348 will stop most anything and is fun to shoot. I have a thing for button magazines, take downs and mutton leg gun cases.