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LOT 1045
Exceptional and Rare Documented Winchester Model 1876 Musket with Factory Letter - Serial no. 4644, 450 cal., 32 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Cody letter describes this Model 1876 as: “Musket, Sights: Baker” and states that it was shipped from Winchester on May 19, 1879. The musket has the Second Model receiver with screw-fastened dust cover guide and dust cover with checkered oval finger grip. The musket has a 32-inch round barrel with block style front sight base that serves as a mount for a socket bayonet and folding leaf sight with 900 yard center notch. The musket has the distinctive steel forearm cap and full length handguard. A wiping rod is secured by
a loop on the left side of the forearm cap and mounted beneath the barrel
band. Sling swivels are mounted on the barrel band and stock. The stock
has a steel, carbine style, buttplate. The barrel, forearm cap, barrel band,
receiver, dust cover and loading gate are blued. The hammer, lever, trigger
and buttplate are color casehardened. The wiping rod is bright. The stock
and forearm are straight grain American walnut. The top of the barrel is
lightly roll-stamped with the two-line legend: “WINCHESTER’S-REPEATING-
ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CONN./KING’S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.
1866. OCTOBER. 16. 1860.” between the barrel band and the rear sight.
British “Crown/V” and “Crown/CP” proof and inspection marks are stamped
on the left side of the barrel below the rear sight and on the top left side
of the receiver. The caliber designation “450” is stamped on the right side
of the barrel next to the receiver. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped
“MODEL. 1876.” in fancy letters. The serial number is stamped in script
numerals on the lower tang behind the lever latch.
CONDITION: Excellent. This rare Model 1876 musket is all original and retains 95% plus of the bright original blue finish overall with only very minimal storage and handling wear. The barrel has some
scuff marks at the muzzle from contact with a socket bayonet. The dust cover has some finish wear and some slight flaking of the blue finish. 85% of the blue finish is present on the forearm cap receiver and loading gate. The hammer, trigger and lever have 95% of the vivid original casehardened finish. The barrel legend is light but the caliber marking and British proof marks are strong. The receiver markings are crisp. The stock and forearm are both in excellent condition with nearly all of the original finish; wear is limited to a few very insignificant storage marks. Model 1876 muskets are the rarest Winchester Model 1876 variation. Surviving examples are difficult to obtain in any condition, extremely rare!
Estimate: 45,000 - 65,000