Winchester Model 1876 Centennial Deluxe .40-60 Lever Rifle, 1886 Antique

SOLD FOR; $8020

LSB#: 230914LM128

Make: Winchester

Model: 1876 Deluxe Rifle

Serial Number: 54240

Year of Manufacture: 1886

Caliber: .40-60 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: 26″, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver 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 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 steel crescent buttplate. The plate has a sliding door over a storage compartment (nothing in the compartment). The stocks have some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The forend has slight play front-to-rear, with gaps depending on whether the forend is too the front or rear. There are minor losses in the wrist around the edges of the tangs and there is a fill at the buttplates tang at the rear of the comb. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 12 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has wear at the heel and toe, polish marks on its tang, scattered residue from the stock’s new finish, and the face has mostly gone to a patina. The stocks are in Very Good-plus overall condition as refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Finish Originality: Most remaining finish is Original. The barrel and magazine tube show treatment with cold blue.

Bore Condition: The bore is dark gray with well defined rifling. There is light-moderate erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 4 or 5 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 10% of its metal finish. There is infrequent finish on the barrel and magazine tube, most of their surfaces have worn or been cleaned to white. The magazine and barrel show treatment with cold blue in the distant past with scattered surface erosion, nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some case color remaining on the receiver, mostly in protected areas and around raised features. Other surfaces have muted or gone to a light patina. The receiver has a few light nicks and scratches with tool marks around some screw heads. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. Some screws appear to be replacements. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this rifle is in Good-Very Good condition as Antique (see Mechanics).

Mechanics: The set-trigger does not set properly, but does function properly when not set. The hammer can be dropped from the safety notch by pressing the trigger. 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 June 19, 1886. The rifle shipped June 22, 1886 on order number 6666.

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 nice example, a Deluxe Rifle made in 1886. Chambered for the .40-60 Winchester cartridge, the rifle has checkered select walnut stocks. 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 these special features, and a records search is included to confirm their authenticity. Especially given the rifle’s age, it’s in good condition with a fair bore, strong mechanics (apart from the set-trigger) and a little of its original blue and case hardened finish remaining. 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