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Extremely Rare and Unique Documented Factory Nickel Plated Special Order Winchester Model 1876 50 Ex

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Rifles Start Price:17,000.00 USD Estimated At:35,000.00 - 55,000.00 USD
Extremely Rare and Unique Documented Factory Nickel Plated Special Order Winchester Model 1876 50 Ex
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Extremely Rare and Unique Documented Factory Nickel Plated Special Order Winchester Model 1876 50 Express Rifle with Saber Bayonet and Factory Letter

Winchester Model 1876 Express Rifle with factory nickel plated receiver, forearm cap and buttplate and factory bayonet lug. The rifle is complete with a brass handle saber/sword bayonet and scabbard. This Second Model rifle has the dust cover guide attached to the receiver by two screws and a dust cover with serrated edges. The round barrel, full length magazine and loading gate are blue. The hammer and lever are casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain black walnut. The barrel has a sporting style front sight with nickel silver blade and a sporting style rear sight with checkered edges. A lug for the saber bayonet is located on the right side of the barrel and a stop for the bayonet socket is located on the left side. The crescent buttplate has a sliding nickel plated trapdoor and the butt trap contains a jointed steel cleaning rod. The top of the barrel is roll stamped with the two-line legend "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860" ahead of the rear sight. "50 CAL." is roll stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. The top of the dust cover is roll stamped "WINCHESTER EXPRESS/.50 CAL. 95 GRS.". "50-95" is stamped on the nickel plated cartridge elevator. The upper tang is roll stamped "MODEL 1876" in fancy letters. The serial number "13853" is stamped in script numerals between the lever latch and the rear tang screw. The sword bayonet has a nickel plated 20 inch yataghan style blade and a cast brass hilt with bird's head pommel and cast feather motif grips. "B" is stamped on the obverse of the ricasso and an illegible proof mark is stamped on the reverse. "24" is stamped on the reverse of the guard. The bayonet is complete with a black leather scabbard with brass throat and tip. A similar bayonet is pictured on page 129 of "THE AMERICAN BAYONET" by A.N. Harden. The accompanying factory letter verifies the rifle configuration, 50 Express caliber, round barrel, "Nickel trims", plain trigger, saber bayonet, that it was received in the warehouse on April 19, 1881 and shipped to order number 24373 on April 28, 1881.

Manufacture: Winchester
Model: 1876
BBL: 26 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 50-95 Express
Finish: nickel/blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 13853

Extremely fine. The rifle retains 80% plus of the nickel plated finish. The barrel and magazine retain 60% blue and have light-moderate finish wear with several areas of flaked bluing on the top of the barrel and sides of the magazine. The blue is thin on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. The nickel plated finish on the receiver has some scattered minor flaking on the sides, top and both side plates. There is a small area of flaked finish and pitting on the lower left side of the receiver near the lever screw. The plating on the buttplate has some scattered flaking. The hammer and lever retain nearly all of the casehardened finish with strong case colors. The stock and forearm are fine with minor handling and storage marks. All of the markings are crisp. The bayonet is fair, the blade appears to have been nickel plated and has heavy flaking and surface rust. 30% of the plated finish remains. The brass hilt and counter guard have patches of age discoloration. The scabbard is very good. The leather body has tight stitching and no flaking. The brass scabbard and throat have a few minor dents and have a dark patina. The combination of a Model 1876 Express Rifle, nickel plated receiver, buttplate and forearm cap and factory saber bayonet and mounts is extremely rare. It would be very difficult to find any Winchester Model 1876 rifle with more unique features.