Winchester Model 1876 Centennial Deluxe .45-60 Lever Rifle, 1885 Antique

SOLD FOR: $10275

LSB#: 230703RB002

Make: Winchester

Model: 1876 Deluxe Rifle

Serial Number: 45719

Year of Manufacture: 1885

Caliber: .45-60 Winchester Center Fire

Action Type: Lever Action with Full-Length Tubular Magazine & Single Set-Trigger (we could not get the trigger to set)

Barrel Length: 28″, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade in a slotted base dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight, presenting a “V”-notch when folded down and with a “V”-notched slider on the ladder. The ladder is marked with graduations from 2-10 and the slider is still snug on the ladder. The top flat of the barrel has full-length matting (the barrel address is marked in the matte area, but the caliber marking is on the top-right shoulder). 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 a pistol grip, decorative ebony inlay in the bottom of the grip, steel nosecap and smooth steel shotgun-style buttplate. The stocks have some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some finish wear, most notable along the comb. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has worn to white with some scattered spots of light oxidation, nicks and scratches. The stocks are in Very Good-Fine overall condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original. There are matching assembly numbers on the bottom tang, the top tang inlet of the wrist and the inside of the buttplate. The tang marking is accompanied by “XX”.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered minor erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 8 out of 10.

Most antique firearms have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the use of black powder. When fired, black powder reacts corrosively. NRA Antique Firearm Conditions Standards are quite lenient for bores. In some cases the NRA standards disregarded the bore’s condition for collectors firearms.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has some scattered finish loss, most appearing to be from surface oxidation which was scrubbed out. There is fairly evenly scattered minor surface oxidation as well as some light nicks and scratches. There is some finish wear along the magazine tube. The receiver has fairly strong case color, especially for the rifle’s age, but does show some muting, more notable in the top tang and at the bottom-front. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Fine condition as Antique (see Mechanics).

Mechanics: The set-trigger does not set properly, but does function properly when not set. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety position. The dust cover slides on a rail which is integral to the receiver. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a Cody Firearms Records Office records search which indicates that this rifle was produced in its current configuration and received in warehouse July 24, 1885. The rifle shipped July 24, 1885 on order number 21776.

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 handgun-sized 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. Theodore Roosevelt used one on his early hunting expeditions in the West and one was found in the possession of Apache warrior Geronimo after his surrender in 1882. Unfortunately, the 1876 lost popularity when the Model 1886 was introduced in heavier calibers.

This is a very nice example, a Deluxe Rifle made in 1884. Chambered for the .45-60 Winchester cartridge, its 28″ barrel has matting all along the top flat to help reduce glare. The stocks are checkered select walnut with a pistol grip and shotgun-style buttplate. The rifle has a single set-trigger, though we could not get the trigger to set. Winchester records indicate that this rifle was produced with all of these special features, and a records search is included to confirm their authenticity. Especially given the rifle’s age, it’s in quite outstanding condition with a nice bore, strong mechanics (apart from the set-trigger) and the majority of its original blue and case hardened finish remaining. My compatriot Red agrees that this rifle is indeed a hot piece! The 1876 Winchester was only made for 21 years, with a total of about 63,871 made in rifle, carbine and musket formats, with the result that ALL are collectable. This Deluxe example would be a great rifle to add to even an advanced collection, placed between an 1873 and an 1886. Please see our photos and good luck!

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California -Bud