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Extremely Rare Winchester Model 1876 Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
Extremely Rare Winchester Model 1876 Rifle
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA
Extremely Rare One-of-a-Kind Winchester Model 1876 Deluxe Pistol-Grip Lever Action Rifle with Fractional Serial Number, #26062-1/2, .45-75 cal., 28'' octagon barrel, half mag, blue barrel, case-hardened receiver, non-foliate upper tang markings, 2nd model plain dustcover on removable rail, factory checkered pistol-grip walnut stock with shotgun butt, fleur de'lis horn inlay to bottom of pistol-grip cap, with gold Beach combination front sight. Lower tang beneath stock is marked with assembly number, as well as XXX, indicating grade of wood used. Shipped from the warehouse Sept. 16, 1882, with all features verified by factory letter. Additional factory letter states, ''In the combined years of records searches and other scholarship, none of us has seen another Winchester serial number noted with a fractional serial number. This occurrence appears to be a unique event.'' We speculate that it may be a method used by Winchester to deal with duplicate serial numbers pr!
ior to shipment. Condition is fine to near excellent retaining approx. 90%+ lightly thinning and slightly toning blue to barrel. Case-hardened receiver, hammer and lever have toned to a mellow silvery gray with approx. 30-40% vivid hues remaining in protected areas. Stocks show moderate knackering and darkening at metal contact points, with light fissures emanating from upper tang screw. Beach front sight retains approx. 20% original gold plate in protected areas. Action is crisp, bore is very good with light frosting in grooves. A rare probably one-of-a-kind Deluxe 76. (Walt Hallstein collection) Est.: $8,000-$12,000.