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Exceptional and Documented Winchester Deluxe Model 1876 Lever Action “Tiger” Short Rifle
in Desirable .50 Express with Factory Letter - Serial no. 24236, 50-95 Express cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1882, this .50-95 Express Short Rifle Model 1876
is configured similarly to the Model 1886 Lightweight in that it has a short 22 inch barrel (although not tapered), rifle style forearm, and shotgun butt. In “The Winchester Model 1876 Centennial Rifle,” author Herbert Houze details around 2,500 short rifle and 2,500 carbines, all with 22 inch barrels. Approximately 65,000 Model 1876s were manufactured, however, only 3,310 were chambered in .50-95 Express. Based on Houze’s research, around 30 of the 3,310 were in deluxe configuration. The .50-95 Winchester Express was the largest caliber available for the Model 1876 and proved popular with big and dangerous game hunters. Many Model 1876 rifles chambered for this powerful cartridge were shipped to England and then found their way to Africa and India where they were often employed against big cats. This example has British proofs stamped on the barrel and receiver at the breech. Theodore Roosevelt loved his .45-75 ‘76, but he and other Americans scorned the .50 Express, and thus, the Model 1876 was only produced in limited numbers chambered for that cartridge compared to the smaller calibers.
The accompanying factory letter states the rifle was received in the warehouse on July 10, 1882 and shipped on July 12 to order number 32944 with a 22 inch round barrel in .50-95 caliber, plain trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, half magazine, shotgun butt, casehardened frame, and “inside finish.” The letter notes the rifle
was delivered with “inside finish.” Per Winchester expert and author Herbert Houze, only 175 Model 1876s had “inside finishing.” This is certainly one of the rare features on this rifle and indicated that the inside of
the action was polished for smoother operation. The rifle is fitted with a dovetail blade front sight and an elevation adjustable rear sight. The top of the barrel is stamped with the two-line Winchester legend ahead of the rear sight and “50-CAL” at the breech. The casehardened second model receiver features a dust cover stamped “WINCHESTER EXPRESS/.50 CAL. 95 GRS.” The cartridge elevator is marked “50-95.” The upper tang
is marked “MODEL 1876.” The lower tang has the serial number under the lever latch. The forearm and pistol grip stock are select XXX walnut and feature factory “H” pattern checkering. The stock has a steel shotgun buttplate, and the pistol grip has an inlay. The left side of the lower tang is marked “XXX 332 S.” The assembly number “332” is repeated on the stock inlet along with the letter “P.”
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