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LOT 1029
Phenomenal and Incredibly Rare Special Order Winchester Model 1876 Lever Action Saddle Ring Carbine with Combination Blue and Nickel Plated Finish - Serial no. 53070, 45-60 WCF cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue/nickel finish, walnut stock. This exceptionally beautiful, special order Winchester Model 1876 carbine was manufactured in 1883. The carbine has the distinctive full-length forearm with single barrel band and a staple- mounted saddle ring on the left side of the receiver. The 22-inch round barrel has a steel block front sight and a folding leaf rear sight marked “1876” at the top of the leaf and graduated to 1,000 yards. The third style receiver has an integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The receiver, dust cover and carbine style buttplate are nickel plated. The forearm tip, barrel, magazine and band spring are blued. The hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened. The loading gate has a fire blue finish. The stock and forearm are oil-finished highly figured walnut. The
top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: “WINCHESTER’S- REPEATING-ARMS NEW HAVEN. CT./KING’S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED- MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860.” between the barrel band and the rear sight. “CAL. 45-60” is roll-stamped between the rear sight and the receiver. “45-60” is roll-stamped across the nickel plated cartridge elevator in script numerals. The upper receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped and roll-stamped: “-MODEL. 1876.-” in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The serial number “53070” is stamped in script numerals on
the lower tang between the lever latch and rear tang screw. Model 1876 Saddle Ring Carbines are scarce. Special order Winchester Model 1873 Saddle Ring carbines with combination finishes are very rare with this example considered by expert collectors as one of the most attractive Winchesters extant.
CONDITION: Excellent to near mint. The barrel, forearm tip and barrel
band have nearly all of the original blue finish with the exception of some small spotting on the muzzle and bottom of the forearm tip. The barrel markings are sharp and crisp. The receiver, side plates, dust cover and buttplate retain more than 98% of the bright, original nickel plated finish, with only the slightest frosting throughout. Wear is limited to some traces of flaking on the sides of the receiver ahead of the side plates. The lower right edge of the buttplate shows some light flaking. The hammer, trigger, lever and lever latch retain nearly all of the vivid case colors. The loading gate exhibits nearly all of the bright original nitre blue finish. The stock and forearm remain in excellent plus condition. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a special order, Winchester Model 1876 Saddle Ring Carbine with striking combination nickel/blue finish.
Provenance: Robert M. Lee Collection, Property of a Gentleman. Estimate: 75,000 - 125,000
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