3021

Fine Deluxe Special Order Winchester Third Model 1876 Lever Action Rifle with Heavy Barrel and Facto

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Rifles Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 35,000.00 USD
Fine Deluxe Special Order Winchester Third Model 1876 Lever Action Rifle with Heavy Barrel and Facto
Buyer's Premium is 20.5% by credit card, reduced to 18% if payment is made by cash, check or wire transfer. Contact Rock Island Auction Company to complete your registration with the auction house.
Fine Deluxe Special Order Winchester Third Model 1876 Lever Action Rifle with Heavy Barrel and Factory Letter

Winchester Model 1876 Lever-Action rifle with Cody Firearms Museum letter. The letter lists the rifle features as: 40/60 caliber, Set Trigger, Checkered stock with pistol grip, 1/2 magazine (Button) and Casehardened. The letter states that the rife was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on June 17, 1886, as order number 20979 and on July 21, 1886, as order number 7502. The rifle has a blued barrel, loading gate and dust cover. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grain walnut with Style H checkering and a high polish piano finish. The pistol grip has a bone or ebony inlay. The Cody letter states that this rifle was originally fitted with a 24-inch octagon barrel. The rifle has a rare heavy-weight half-round/half-octagon barrel. The finish and patina on the barrel match the finish and patina on the other rifle components perfectly. The half-round barrel was probably installed by Winchester under order number 7502 in July 1886. The barrel has an Express style front sight and a dovetail mounted base for a folding rear sight. A folding combination peep sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The receiver has a Winchester single set trigger. The Third Model receiver has an integral dust cover rail and a dust cover with serrated edges. The top barrel flat is roll stamped "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCT.16.1860." ahead of the rear sight base and "CAL. 40-60" just ahead of the receiver. "40-60" is stamped in script numerals on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The serial number "45597" is stamped in tiny numerals across the lower tang between the lever latch and the tang screw.

Manufacture: Winchester
Model: 1876
BBL: 26 inch part octagon
Stock: walnut checkered
Gauge: 40-60 WCF
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 45597

Fine. The rifle retains 30% of the blue finish. The balance of the blue finish on the barrel has aged to a smooth plum-colored patina. The Winchester legend and caliber designation are clear. The colored insert is missing from the front sight blade and the rear sight base is missing the leaf. The receiver, hammer and lever retain traces of the original casehardened finish; the case colors have faded and the high points have silvered. The case colors on the forearm cap and buttplate show more wear and have patches of dark age discoloration. The loading gate retains most of the original blue finish. The blue on the dust cover has faded to a plum patina. The highly figured, fancy grain stock and forearm are good and retain nearly 60% of the piano finish. Most of the finish wear is concentrated on the forearm. The checkered panels show handling wear but remain very good. Both the stock and forearm have numerous minor handling marks. This is a fine example of a scarce Deluxe Special Order Third Model Winchester 1876 Rifle.