Make: Winchester

Model: 1876 Deluxe Rifle

Serial Number: 41357

Year of Manufacture: Shipped December 12, 1884

Caliber: .40-60 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action with Tubular Magazine & Single Set-Trigger

Barrel Length: 28", Octagonal

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. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none present).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered select walnut with capped forend, pistol grip with ebony inlay, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate with a sliding door over a storage compartment (nothing in the compartment). There are repaired cracks in the top of the wrist to the left of the tang and at the ebony inlay in the bottom of the grip. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The checkering is generally well defined, some areas are smoothed, but visible. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has mostly worn to white or gone to a light patina. The stocks are in about Very Good overall condition as refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color, Nickeled Lifter

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion and infrequent minor pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, this bore rates about 6/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 10% of its metal finish. There is a little blue on the forward portion of the magazine and the bottom shoulders of the barrel. There is some case color in protected areas of the receiver, most surfaces have muted or gone to a nickel-like appearance. The lifter retains much of its nickel finish. Other surfaces have mostly gone to an even light patina. There is some scattered light surface oxidation. There are some scattered nicks and light scratches. There are tool marks around some screw heads. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly including the set-trigger. We have not fired this carbine. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This carbine comes with a Cody Firearms Records Office search indicating its production as a rifle, chambered for 40-60, octagonal barrel, set trigger, checkered stock, pistol grip, casehardened, received in warehouse December 11 and shipped December 12, 1884 on order number 17793.

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 pistol caliber 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. Additionally, Theodore Roosevelt carried one on his early hunting expeditions in the Dakota Badlands, and one was found in the possession of Apache warrior Geronimo after his surrender in 1886.

This is a beautiful example of an 1876 Deluxe Rifle with checkered pistol grip stocks, casehardened receiver, and a single set-trigger. The stocks have a couple of repairs, but show fairly light wear for their age of 140 years. The bore is pretty good and the mechanics are strong. This is a wonderful rifle that will make a nice addition to any collection, especially one focused on Winchester lever guns. Please see our photos and good luck!