Winchester Model 1876 Centennial 45-60 WCF 27″ Lever Action Rifle Antique
SOLD FOR: $2,026.00
LSB#: LSB260505JM018
Make: Winchester
Model: 1876 Centennial
Serial Number: 18752
Year of Manufacture: 1876 Antique
Caliber: 45-60 WCF
Action Type: Lever action, centerfire rifle, fed from tubular magazine.
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “Winchester Repeating Arms, New Haven, CT, Kings Improvement Patented, March 29, 1866, October 16, 1860, Cal 45-60”. The bottom of the carrier is marked “45-60”. The upper tang is marked “Model 1876”. The serial number is marked on the lower tang.
Barrel Length: 27″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is a spring leaf V notch with elevator dovetailed into the barrel. The upper tang is drilled and tapped and for a peep sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is two piece walnut, capped forend, straight checkered grip, straight comb, and crescent rifle buttplate with trapdoor. There are cleaning rods in the butt. The LOP is 12 1/2″ from trigger to buttplate. The stock has had some refinishing done. The checkering is not factory. The buttplate is proud of the wood. There are scratches and compression dents throughout.. There is worn finish on the stock. There is a crack at the front of the comb. Overall this stock is in Good condition for refinished.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright. The rifling is defined. There is light erosion and pitting scattered throughout the bore. There is some fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates 7/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its current finish. There are scratches and pits that have been blued over. There is handling and operational wear. There are nicks and some tool marks. Some of the markings and edges have been softened. The screw heads are tooled but most are serviceable. Overall this rifle is in Fair to Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly though the dust cover is not functional. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: This Winchester Model 1876 Centennial in .45-60 WCF is a desirable antique large-frame Winchester lever-action rifle with strong 19th-century collector appeal. The 27″ barrel, tubular magazine, Model 1876 upper tang marking, King’s Improvement barrel address, caliber-marked carrier, and crescent rifle buttplate with trapdoor all reinforce its classic Centennial rifle character. The presence of cleaning rods in the buttstock is a nice accessory detail and adds to the rifle’s period presentation, while the .45-60 WCF chambering is especially appropriate and desirable for the Model 1876 platform.
Condition-wise, this example is best viewed as a refinished antique rather than a high-originality collector piece. It retains about 90% of its current blue finish, but the finish is not original, and the description notes scratches and pits that have been blued over, softened markings and edges, handling wear, operational wear, nicks, and tool marks. The screw heads are tooled, though most remain serviceable. The bore is semi-bright with defined rifling, scattered light erosion and pitting, and some fouling, rating 7/10 in the writer’s opinion. Mechanically, the action functions correctly, but the nonfunctional dust cover is an important condition and completeness concern.
The stock has also been refinished and shows several collector caveats, including non-factory checkering, a proud buttplate, scattered scratches and compression dents, worn finish, and a crack at the front of the comb. Even with those issues, the rifle remains visually appealing and retains many desirable antique Winchester features. Overall, this is a presentable and historically interesting Winchester Model 1876 Centennial in .45-60 WCF with functional action, included buttstock cleaning rods, and strong display appeal, but its value is moderated by the refinish, non-factory checkering, softened markings, stock crack, nonfunctional dust cover, and moderate bore wear. Please see our photos and good luck on your bids! MF