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LOT 3000
Rare First Model “Open Top” Winchester Model 1876 “Centennial” Lever Action Saddle Ring Carbine
with Factory Letters - Serial no. 1086, 45-75 cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Model 1876, debuted as the “Centennial Rifle” in
1876 during the Centennial International Exhibition and celebration of the centennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was Winchester’s third
lever action rifle design and the first capable of firing powerful big game cartridges like the .45-75 W.C.F.
designed for this model to mimic the .45-70 Government cartridge in a shorter case length. This model,
particularly the First Model carbines like this one, are among the rarest Winchesters with only 64,871 Model
1876s manufactured in total by the time the model was discontinued in 1898. The carbines are popular both
as an intriguing variation of this rare model and due to their use by the famous Canadian Mounties (North-
West Mounted Police). The ‘76 was also famously popular with Theodore Roosevelt and the Texas Rangers.
The included Winchester Museum letter lists this gun as a carbine received in the warehouse on February 8,
1878, and finally shipped on May 9, 1878, in a shipment of four other carbines in the same configuration. An earlier Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation letter lists the same shipping date and notes that the Model 1876 carbines used the same rear sights as the Model 1866 muskets. It also notes that the “T” marking on the carbine might be from Albert Tilton who was an inside contractor manufacturing receivers for Winchester and also noting an assembly number “438.” A third letter from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center notes that this was not the first 1876 carbine as there were 68 others received in the warehouse prior to this one, starting with sn. 601 on September 15, 1877.The barrel has a military style front sight that doubles as a bayonet lug for
a socket bayonet, notch and folding rear sight with marks for 100 yards on the notch and 300 and 500 on the leaf, and the two-line address and King’s improvement patent marking ahead
of the rear sight. The First Model “open top” frame has no provisions for a dust cover and features a saddle ring on the left, “MODEL. 1876.” on the upper tang, and script serial number on the lower tang. It is mounted with a long forearm with steel end cap and single barrel band and a smooth buttstock with curved carbine buttplate marked with an inverted “T.”
CONDITION: Very good plus with 25% original blue finish remaining mainly concentrated in the protected areas, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, some patches of mild oxidation and light pitting, and general mild overall wear. The lightly sanded and refinished stock and forearm are both very good and have some dings and scratches, minor edge wear, and attractive grain. Mechanically excellent. Overall, a very attractive early Winchester Model 1876 Centennial Carbine.
Provenance: The Brandhorst Collection.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,000
LOT 3001
Very Fine Antique Special Order Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Documented 26 Inch Extra Long Barrel and Factory Letter - Serial no. 508942B, 44 WCF cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The factory letter lists this desirable antique Winchester rifle in .44
caliber with a 26 inch octagon barrel, and set trigger and as
received in the warehouse on April 24, 1897, and shipped on April 26 with five other arms in order
7180. The barrel has a nickel-silver blade front sight, the two-line address and patent marking, an adjustable sporting rear sight, and “44 W.C.F.” on top at the breech. The brass cartridge elevator is marked
“44 CAL.” The upper tang has the model designation, and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is equipped with an adjustable single set trigger and mounted with a smooth rifle stock and forearm. The stock
compartment is empty. The hammer, lever, and buttplate are casehardened; the loading gate is niter blued, and the remaining components are blued.
CONDITION: Very fine with 80% plus original blue, casehardened, and niter blue finish remaining with some light scratches, mild dings at the edges of the barrel, and general mild wear overall. The wood is fine and has smooth oiled finish, some scattered scratches and dings, a thin crack in the right side of the wrist, and mild overall wear. The set trigger adjustment screw broken; otherwise, mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
4
German silver blade front and elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sights. Mounted with a smooth forearm
and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration as
well as receipt at the warehouse on 12 July 1894 and shipped on 17 April 1900 in order number 56946. CONDITION: Very good plus, retains 40% original blue finish with the balance a plum-brown patina and some scattered light pitting. Very faint traces of original case colors remain, primarily on the hammer, with the balance having mostly silvered. The wood is fine showing some nice
figure with minor dings and scratches scattered throughout. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3002
Documented Antique Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle in Scarce .38-70 W.C.F. with Factory Letter - Serial no. 89541, 38-70 WCF cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1894 as one of only 830 chambered in .38-70 W.C.F. Standard two-line address and “.38-70 W.C.F.” marked on the top barrel flat, model designation on the upper tang, and two-line patent date marking and serial number on the lower tang. Fitted with dovetailed