Make: Winchester

Model: 1876 (3rd Model)

Serial Number: 39581

Year of Manufacture: 1884

Caliber: .50-95 Winchester Express

Action Type: Lever Action with Half Length “Button” Magazine

Barrel Length: 26" Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a German silver blade in a slotted base dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The factory letter lists the front sight as originally having been a Beach Combination sight; that was replaced long ago with this more rugged German silver blade. The rear sight is a buckhorn sporting rear sight with a sliding elevator dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none present). The factory letter lists there originally having been a Lyman tang sight, which was likely removed long ago at the same time the front sight was replaced.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with a steel nosecap, straight grip, sling swivels at the nosecap and underside of the buttstock, and a steel crescent buttplate with sliding door storage compartment (there’s nothing in the compartment). The checkering has been recut. There is some side to side loosening to the forend, as well as some light front to back loosening. The stocks have some light scattered nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There’s some darkening where the butt stock meets the buttplate. There is some light darkening where the butt stock meets the frame, and where the frame meets the forend. The LOP measures 12 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has mostly gone to patina, with scattered minor erosion. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good Condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The rifling is sharp. There is no erosion, but there is some light scattered pitting through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 8-9 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 60% of its metal finish. The metal surfaces have mostly gone to patina, with a bit of bluing remaining in protected areas around the frame, a good amount of bluing remaining on the loading gate and left side plate, and most of the bluing remaining on the barrel (there is some thinning around the muzzle). There is scattered discoloration from oxidation and some minor surface erosion. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs, and scratches. Some surfaces show signs of light cleaning. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good Condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety position. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a Winchester factory letter indicating this was produced as a “Rifle, Express, Round barrel, Plain trigger, Lyman and Beach sights, 1/2 magazine, Sling and swivel, received in warehouse and shipped from warehouse on August 20, 1884”.

Our Assessment: Introduced to the public as part of Winchester’s elaborate display at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, the Winchester Model 1876 was appropriately christened “The Centennial Rifle”, and initially chambered for the newly-ordained Winchester .45-75. Later chamberings were .40-60 WCF, .45-60 WCF, and one of the rarest and most desirable, .50-95 Express, introduced in 1879. Standard guns were blued, deluxe models were casehardened, and numerous options were available, including checkering, which was not always listed on factory letters. Initially priced at $27 for the full-stocked Carbine, $30 for the Musket, and $32 for the Sporting Rifle, the half-magazine Express Rifle was the most costly at $35. Even so, the Winchester ’76, especially the 26” barrel .50-95 Express Rifle, found a ready audience among hunters in pursuit of dangerous game, not only in the United States, but in Africa and India, where fast follow-up shots could mean the difference between life and death. Yet surprisingly, there were only 3,284 Express Rifles in .50-95 caliber produced out of a total of about 63,799 1876s before the model was discontinued in 1897, making that particular version extremely rare and desirable today.

This Antique Winchester Model 1876 .50-95 Express Rifle was made in 1884 and is in Very Good Condition. It features a 26” round barrel, 60% of its original blued finish, elegant two-piece checkered walnut stocks (the checkering has been recut), a German silver blade replacement front sight and a standard buckhorn sporting rear sight with a sliding elevator (no Lyman or Beach sights remain), strong mechanics, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion (only some light scattered pitting). It comes with a Winchester factory letter indicating this was produced as a “Rifle, Express, Round barrel, Plain trigger, Lyman and Beach sights, 1/2 magazine, Sling and swivel, received in warehouse and shipped from warehouse on August 20, 1884”. Lastly, this rifle comes directly from the personal collection of award-winning gunwriter and book author Rick Hacker, and a signed letter of authenticity from Mr. Hacker will accompany this piece. The letter states “I bought this rifle in the late 1980s from the old (sadly no longer existing) Pony Express Sports Shop in Encino, California. I purchased it because of its rare .50-95 Express chambering, its excellent condition, and its half-magazine configuration, a favorite of Teddy Roosevelt’s ’76 during his Dakota Territory ranching days in the 1880’s”. This is a beautiful Winchester 1876 Rifle in the highly desirable .50-95 Express chambering.