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the ledger along with an earlier shipping date of September 16, 1882. This “Second Model” 1876 rifle has a screw fastened dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated finger guide along the rear edges. It has color casehardened receiver, hammer, trigger, lever, forearm cap and crescent buttplate.
LOT 13
Highly Desirable Documented Winchester Deluxe Model 1876 “Centennial” Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 23255, 45-60 WCF cal., 28 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut checkered stock. Presented here is a highly attractive, high condition special order Winchester Model 1876 Rifle. The Model 1876 was the first Winchester lever action rifle offered in calibers suitable
for hunting big game. The larger caliber Model 1876 was popular among those in the west who believed .44-40 wasn’t quite enough stopping power for whatever they might encounter. Deluxe variations of the Model 1876 are always in demand, especially in high condition like this example. With only 63,871 rifles and carbines manufactured between 1876 and 1897 surviving examples of the Centennial rifle are scarce, especially deluxe variations. The Model 1876 was a working man’s gun and thus most customers did not see the need to spend additional money on special order features. The accompanying factory letter states the rifle had a octagon barrel in 45-60 caliber, checkered pistol grip stock, plain trigger and casehardened receiver when it was shipped on October 6, 1882. There is evidence that the rifle was originally intended for an order that requested Lyman sights and half magazine. These two features have been crossed out in