Make: Winchester

Model: 1876

Serial Number: 8040

Year of Manufacture: 1878

Caliber: .45-75 Winchester

Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 28", Octagon

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade in a slotted base dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "V"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel, suspected to be a vintage after-market sight. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight, none present.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece checkered deluxe walnut with capped forend, pistol grip with ebony inlay, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate with a sliding door over a storage compartment. The compartment has a 5-piece cleaning rod. There is a crack in the right of the wrist, repaired with a patch near the top-front of the checkering, checkered over to match the surrounding wood. There are some small losses at edges. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The checkering is generally well defined. The LOP measures 13" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a moderate patina with scattered light surface erosion and wear. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition as refinished and repaired Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue and Casehardened

Finish Originality: Remaining finish is Original with matching assembly numbers on the tang, stock and buttplate. The sideplates have been polished and touched-up with cold blue. The barrel has been replaced, but we suspect this was performed at the factory, see Our Assessment.

Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with sharp rifling. There is scattered light erosion and infrequent minor pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 40% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel retains generally strong finish with some scattered minor oxidation. The magazine tube has mostly gone to an even patina. The receiver's case color has mostly muted or gone to a nickel-like appearance typical of Winchester casehardening of this age. The sideplates were polished bright and treated with cold blue, mostly muted or worn, showing scattered minor erosion. There are infrequent minor nicks and scuffs. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in Very Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a five-piece cleaning rod stored in the buttstock and Cody Firearms Records Office search indicating that this serial number was produced as a rifle, 30" octagon barrel, with plain trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, sporting rear sight, casehardened, and "lid" (dust cover) received in warehouse February 6, 1878. An entry indicating that the rifle shipped the same date was crossed out in the ledger with a later entry indicating shipment November 15, 1886 on order number 12087.

Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1876 was a heavier-framed rifle than the Model 1873, the first to be chambered for full-powered centerfire rifle cartridges, as opposed to rimfire cartridges or handgun-sized centerfire rounds. While similar in design to the 1873, the 1876 was actually based on the prototype 1868 lever-action rifle that was never commercially produced by Winchester. It was introduced to celebrate the American Centennial, and earned a reputation as a durable and powerful hunting rifle that was also used by the Canadian North-West Mounted Police and the Texas Rangers. Theodore Roosevelt used one on his early hunting expeditions in the West and one was found in the possession of Apache warrior Geronimo after his surrender in 1886.

This is an interesting example from 1878 chambered for the original .45-75 cartridge. Winchester's records indicate that the rifle was produced in 1878 with a crossed-out shipping entry from the same year, actually shipped nearly a decade later in 1886. This may explain the original ledger entry noting a 30" barrel, while it currently has a 28" barrel installed. The letter does confirm the deluxe stocks, casehardened receiver, and factory installed dust cover, a special-order feature when the rifle was first produced. Please see our photos and good luck!