Make: Winchester

Model: 1876 Rifle

Serial Number: 39782

Year of Manufacture: 1884 

Caliber: .50-95 Winchester 

Action Type: Lever Action with Half-Length Tubular Magazine

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “WINCHESTER’S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT. / KING’S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860.” forward of the rear sight, the top-rear of the barrel is marked "50 / CAL.". The lower tang is marked “39782” at the rear. The upper tang is marked “MODEL. 1876.”. The bottom of the carrier is marked “50-95”. The top of the dust cover is marked "WINCHESTER EXPRESS / 50 CAL. 95 GRS.". The left sideplate is marked "LONDON ARMOURY / JAs KERR & Co / 118 QUEEN VICTORIA ST E C". The right of the buttstock has a London Armoury cartouche. There are British commercial proof marks on the barrel and receiver.

Barrel Length: 22", Round

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 sem-buckhorn "V"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present). 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel shotgun-style buttplate. The stocks have some nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There is a grain-line crack in the left of the buttstock below the comb near the rear that doesn't quite extend to the rear edge. There are two short cracks at the right-rear edge of the buttstock near the toe. There is a loss in the right of the wrist at the top-front corner. There are a few other tiny losses around the edges. The LOP measures 13 1/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has worn to white with scattered surface erosion. The stocks are in about Very Good overall condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright. The rifling is sharp where not interrupted by erosion. There is some scattered erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6 or 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 50% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is fairly evenly scattered wear on the barrel and receiver. The case color has mostly muted on the lever and hammer with some good color in protected areas. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some light surface oxidation and erosion. The action shows operational wear. There are tool marks around some screw heads. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The dust cover is on a rail integral to the frame, typical of the 3rd Model. The hammer has a half-cock position, there is a lever-safety and there is a lever-lock. 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 Cody Firearms Records Office records search indicating that this rifle was produced as an Express with a 22" Round barrel, 1/2 magazine and shotgun butt, received in warehouse and shipped July 31, 1884 on order number 13646.

Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1876 was a heavier-framed design similar to the Model 1873, and was 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 1884. Unfortunately, the 1876 lost popularity when the Model 1886 was introduced in heavier calibers.

This rifle is a particularly interesting specimen of an Express rifle with three special order features. It shipped from the factory with a 22" round barrel, half-length magazine and shotgun butt. The sideplate markings, buttstock cartouche, and British proof marks also indicate that this rifle shipped to the London Armoury of James Kerr & Co. The 50-95 Winchester Express was designed for the Model 1876 rifle and introduced in 1879. It is a potent round, pushing a 300 grain bullet at about 1,500 fps. This example is in Very Good condition as Antique. The bore has some light erosion and pitting, but the rifle retains about 40% of its original blued finish and strong mechanics. The 1876 Winchester was only made for 21 years, with a total of about 63,871 made in rifle, carbine and musket formats, with the result that ALL are collectable. This London-shipped special-order example would be a great rifle to add to even an advanced collection. Please see our photos and good luck!