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LOT 1010
Exceptional and Highly
Desirable First Year
Production, “Open Top”
Frame Special Order Winchester
First Model 1876 “Centennial”
Lever Action Rifle with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 1263, 45-75 cal., 28
inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock.
Manufactured in 1876, the first year of production, this
is a very fine and relatively scarce “open-top frame” example of Winchester’s “Centennial” rifle,
the Model 1876. These rifles were designed by Winchester to be an upscaled “big brother” to their already popular Model 1873. Their “Centennial Model”,
nicknamed for its year of release, was basically the same design as the ‘73, but scaled up to handle larger and more powerful cartridges. The increased power the ‘76
had to offer found popularity with those heading westward to the American frontier, providing a sense of security against the known and unknown dangers they might
face. While not as powerful as some of Winchester’s later models, the 1876 offered some of the strongest stopping power in a repeating rifle at the time, with most of its
chamberings capable of handling some of the largest game in North America as well as any human threats one might face. These Model 1876s, particularly early production,
standard configuration ones, often saw hard frontier use, just like the Model ‘73, leaving relatively few surviving examples available, particularly in high condition like this one.
The included factory letter with this example lists the rifle with an octagon barrel and special ordered set trigger when received at the warehouse on 18 January 1878, and shipped
on 8 May 1878 in order number 11779. The rifle has the early production First Model “open-top” receiver, which has no provision for a dust cover. The top barrel flat is marked with
the standard address and King’s patent marking. The rifle correctly lacks caliber markings, as .45-75 W.C.F. was the only caliber offered until 1879. The model marking is on the upper
tang and the serial number is on the lower tang. The assembly number “31” is marked on the left side of the lower tang, in the stock inlet, and inside the buttplate. It is fitted with a rare and
desirable, later production replacement D.W. King, Denver, Colorado rotating “triple bead” blade front sight (only ivory bead remains), a correct, 1876 marked folding ladder/adjustable leaf rear sight, and a special
ordered, factory single set trigger. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with the early pattern, trapdoor, “long toe” crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% plus of the original blue finish, 60% of the vibrant original case colors on the hammer and strong traces on the lever, and 70% of the original nitre blue on the loading gate with some cold
blue touch up on the magazine tube showing a plum hue and the balance mostly a smooth grey patina with a few scattered freckles of light oxidation. The wood is also very fine with some scattered minor dings and scratches.
Mechanically excellent. It would be very difficult to find another first year production, First Model 1876 “Open Top” rifle in high condition like this for your Winchester collection!
Estimate: 20,000 - 30,000
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