Page 42 - 4091-BOOK2

40
LOT 1029
Outstanding and Rare Winchester First Model Open Top 1876 Lever Action “Centennial Model” Saddle Ring Carbine with Factory Letter - Serial no. 2735, 45-75 cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Winchester Model 1876 is known as the “Centennial Model” due to its introduction year and became very popular in the American west, especially among those who decided
that the Model 1873 just didn’t provide
the stopping power they desired, most famously the Northwest Mounted Police. The carbine configuration
in particular provided a superior level of firepower in portable package, similar in size to its smaller cousin, the 1873. With its larger more powerful calibers, there was almost nothing on the frontier that the 1876
wasn’t capable of stopping, man or beast. This example was manufactured in 1877, the second year of production, as a First Model with no provision for a dust cover. George Madis notes in “The Winchester Book”, that after serial number 1600, dust covers were offered upon request, but prior to serial number 3000 they are rarely seen, becoming gradually more common after that number was reached. Madis also notes that approximately seven out of every eight Model 1876s manufactured was a standard rifle, making the carbines like this relatively scarce. The top of the barrel has the two-line address/King’s patent marking in front of the early pattern, non-adjustable, two-leaf rear sight. The model designation is marked on the upper tang and serial number on the lower. This example correctly lacks caliber markings, as .45-75 W.C.F. was the only caliber offered until 1879. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight, previously mentioned two-leaf rear sight, and a saddle ring on the left of the receiver. It is mounted with a smooth, near full-length forearm and straight grip stock with a carbine buttplate. These carbines often saw hard frontier use in the hands of the Northwest Mounted Police or others who valued their firepower, making examples in outstanding condition like this one incredibly scarce. The included factory letter states the carbine was received in the warehouse on March 15, 1878 and shipped on May 9, 1878.