Make: Winchester

Model: 1876 Rifle

Serial Number: 7295

Year of Manufacture: 1878

Caliber: .45-75 Winchester Center Fire

Action Type: Lever Action with Full-Length Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 28”, Octagon

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight, presenting a “V”-notch when folded down and with a “V”-notched slider on the ladder. The ladder is marked with graduations from 2-10, the slider is loose on the ladder. 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 crescent buttplate with a sliding door over a storage compartment (there is nothing in the compartment). The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 12 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate’s finish has mostly muted with scattered light erosion, nicks and scratches. The stocks are in about Very Good overall condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue, Case Color

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is somewhat bright with defined rifling. There is light to mild erosion but no notable pitting. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 6/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 10% of its metal finish. Finish remains only in areas protected while assembled. The exposed surfaces have mostly worn to white or gone to a mottled dark patina. There is scattered light surface oxidation and some minor surface erosion. There are some light nicks and scratches. The case color has mostly muted save for some trace amounts in the protected areas. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The lever safety is present but does not engage, otherwise the action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety position. The dust cover slides on a rail which is screwed to the receiver. 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: This rifle comes with its Winchester factory letter that confirms an octagon barrel, plain trigger, special order “Lid” which refers to the dust cover which did not come standard until later production models, and a received and shipped year of 1878.

Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1876 was a heavier-framed rifle than 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 1882. Unfortunately, the 1876 lost popularity when the Model 1886 was introduced in heavier calibers.

This is an honest example from 1878 chambered for the .45-75 Winchester cartridge. Especially given the rifle’s age, it’s in quite good shape with a decent bore 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 rifle was specially ordered with a “lid” dust cover. This example would be a great rifle to add to a Winchester collection, placed between an 1873 and an 1886.