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LOT 12
Fine Early Production Special Order Winchester Model 1876
Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 8347, 45-75 cal., 28
inch part octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1878, 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. This example is a Second Model with dust cover guide retained
by two screws and a dust cover with checkered “thumbprint” grip. The special order half-octagon barrel is marked with the
two- line Winchester address/King’s patent marking along. The rifle correctly lacks caliber markings, as the only caliber initially offered for the Model 1876 was .45-75 W.C.F. The upper tang is marked with the model designation, and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a blade front sight, “1876” marked folding ladder rear sight, and a later production peep sight is
mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate. The included factory letter confirms the special order part octagon barrel as well as “lid”, referring to the dust cover, and that it was received at the warehouse on 27 November 1878 and shipped on 30 November 1878 in order number 13972.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% plus of the original blue finish, 20% of the original case colors, and traces of the original niter blue on the loading gate, with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina with numerous scattered spots of brown visible on the right side of the receiver. The wood is fine with some scattered minor handling marks and a few hairline cracks on the right of the
buttstock. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 13
Special Order Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action .45-90 WCF Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 70334, 45-90 cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The Model 1886
is one of the finest Winchester
models and was the first repeater based on designs by John M. Browning. It was developed as a replacement for the weaker toggle link action Model 1876, but their production was fairly limited at around
160,000 between 1886 and 1935. This fine special order example is chambered in the desirable .45-90 WCF caliber. The accompanying factory letter lists this rifle with a round barrel in .45-90
caliber, Winchester express sights, half magazine, and shotgun butt as well as the rifle received in warehouse on October 8, 1892 and shipped on October 19. The rifle has several desirable features
including the casehardened receiver, special order half magazine and shotgun butt, and sights. The rifle is fitted with a beaded blade front sight and a three leaf Winchester express rear sight (one fixed, two folding)
with silver sight lines on a barrel with the two-line legend ahead of the rear sight and “45-90 WCF” at the breech.
British proofs are stamped on the barrel, receiver and bolt. The lower tang has the two-line patent date marking and the serial
number. “-MODEL 1886-” is stamped on the upper tang.
CONDITION: Fine. The barrel retains 98% plus of the professionally refinished rust blue finish. 60% vivid original case colors remain on the receiver. 75% original niter blue remains on the loading gate. The forend cap is loose as the barrel dovetail mount is absent. The wood is very fine with some light scratches and small dings. Mechanically excellent.
16 Estimate: 5,500 - 8,000