Make: Winchester
Model: 1876 Deluxe Rifle
Serial Number: 45512
Year of Manufacture: Shipped May 12, 1885
Caliber: .40-60 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)
Action Type: Lever Action with Tubular Magazine and Single Set-Trigger
Barrel Length: 28", Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a steel 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 notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled and tapped with an aperture folding tang sight installed, adjustable for elevation.
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 is a sling swivel mounted to the forend cap and another on an inlaid sling plate in the belly. The sling swivels are not noted in the records search, but are of the correct type and properly installed. There is a quality patch-repair in the belly just behind the grip. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some finish wear, most notable at the right-rear of the butt. The checkering is well defined. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 12 7/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has mostly muted with scattered surface erosion. The stocks are in Very Good-plus overall condition as refinished and repaired Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue and Casehardened
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion and minor pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, this bore rates about 6/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has generally strong finish with some light wear over the forend and on the right over the magazine cap. The magazine tube has scattered light wear. The receiver retains some strong color with scattered spots of surface oxidation and some areas muted. The lever and hammer have similar oxidation. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly including the set-trigger. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle 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 and shipped May 12, 1885 on order number 20629.
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 stock has a well-done repair, but shows fairly light wear for its age of 140 years. The rifle has sling swivels which are consistent with factory work, but are not mentioned in the included records check. 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!
