Winchester 1876 28″ Round .45-60 WCF Lever Action Rifle, 1882 Antique
SOLD FOR: $2,125.60
LSB# WY241114DS014.1
Make: Winchester
Model: 1876 Rifle
Serial Number: 28581
Year of Manufacture: 1882 (
Caliber: .45-60 Winchester
Action Type: Lever Action with Full-Length Tubular Magazine
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “WINCHESTER’S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT. / KING’S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860.” forward of the rear sight, the top-rear of the barrel is marked “CAL. 45-60”. The lower tang is marked “28581” at the rear. The upper tang is marked “MODEL. 1876.”. The bottom of the carrier is marked “45-60”.
Barrel Length: 28″, Round
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 notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The steps have been removed or broken off the elevator. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate with sliding door storage compartment (there is nothing in the compartment). The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches with most notable wear in the belly and bottom of the forend. There are several chips and losses along the top edges of the forend and a crack at the rear of the bottom tang and a crack in the forearm near the cap. The wood shows discoloration from age and oil. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has mostly worn to white with scattered oxidation and erosion. The stocks are in Good overall condition as an Antique.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is dark and gray. The rifling is worn, but visible. There is heavy erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 5% of its metal finish. Finish remains in well protected areas such as the bottom of the barrel, top of the magazine tube, around the sideplates and on the bottom tang where protected by the lever. There is oxidation on the bolt face. Most exposed surfaces have worn to white or gone to a light patina with scattered surface oxidation. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition as Antique (see Mechanics).
Mechanics: The lever does not properly disengage the lever safety, either due to wear or bending in the lever. The extractor does not properly retract the dust cover. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. The dust cover is on a rail integral to the frame, typical of the 3rd Model. The hammer has a half-cock position and there is a lever lock. 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: None.
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1876 was a heavier-framed design similar to 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 rifle’s 28″ barrel is chambered for the .45-60 Winchester cartridge, designed for the Model 1876 rifle and introduced in 1879 as a slightly lighter chambering for the model. This example is in Good condition as Antique, showing wear consistent with its age, and with a lever that will not disengage the lever safety. The bore has erosion and pitting, but the rifle retains a little of its original blued finish. 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 would be a great rifle to add to a collection, placed between an 1873 and an 1886. Please see our photos and good luck!
BF
