Winchester Model 1876 Centennial Deluxe .45-75 Lever Rifle, 1883 Antique
SOLD FOR: $6750
LSB#: 230914LM180
Make: Winchester
Model: 1876 Deluxe Rifle
Serial Number: 33775
Year of Manufacture: 1883
Caliber: .45-75 Winchester Center Fire
Action Type: Lever Action with Full-Length Tubular Magazine & Single Set-Trigger (see Mechanics)
Barrel Length: 28″, 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 folding ladder-style sight presenting a “V”-notch when down with a “V”-notched slider on the ladder which is graduated from 2-10 (in hundreds of yards). The top tang is drilled and tapped with a folding tang-sight installed. The tang sight is adjustable for elevation with an adjustable 6-position aperture. There are no maker’s markings on the tang sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered select walnut with a pistol grip, decorative 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). Typical grip inlays are roughly triangular, this example has a shouldered taper that ends in a three-pointed tip. The stocks have some scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches including a ding in the comb from the tang sight’s elevation adjustment knob. There are tiny losses at the top-front corners of the wrist. There is a crack at the left-front of the forend. The forend cap is missing a screw on the right side. The checkering is well defined. While the wood appears to be aged with the rifle, the checkering appears to have been re-cut. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has gone to a light patina with some scattered surface erosion. 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, worn areas show treatment with cold blue.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion and minor pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 5 or 6 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 25% of its metal finish. Most surfaces show wear. There is scattered remaining finish including some faint case-color on the frame. Most worn areas show treatment with cold blue. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs, scratches, and spots of minor surface oxidation. There is some more notable oxidation in the lever loop. The action shows operational wear. The remaining screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. There are no caliber markings on the barrel or lifter. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition as Antique (see Mechanics).
Mechanics: The sear engagement needs work, the hammer can be pushed out of full- and half-cock without pressing the trigger. The mainspring is weak, the hammer has some play when forward. 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. The records search indicates that this rifle originally shipped with a set trigger, checkered pistol grip stocks and case hardened receiver. The rifle was received in warehouse on May 22, 1883 and shipped May 23, 1883 on order number 4442.
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 1883 was introduced in heavier calibers.
This is a nice example, a Deluxe Rifle made in 1883. Chambered for the .45-75 Winchester cartridge, the rifle has checkered select walnut stocks. The rifle has a single set-trigger, though the sear engagement and mainspring need some work. Especially given the rifle’s age, it’s in good condition with a fair bore and some 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
