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8
LOT 1008
Iconic, Rare and Exceptional Special Order Winchester Model
1876 Deluxe .50 Express Lever Action Short “Tiger” Rifle with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 9784, 50-95 Winchester Express cal., 22 Inch
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This rifle was received in
the Winchester warehouse on November 18, 1879, and shipped as
part of order number 17738 the following day in rifle configuration
with express chambering, 22 inch round barrel, plain trigger,
checkered pistol grip stock with shotgun butt, 1/2 magazine, and
casehardened receiver as detailed in the included factory letter.
In “The Winchester Model 1876 Centennial Rifle,” author Herbert
Houze indicates around 2,500 short rifle and 2,500 carbines,
all with 22 inch barrels, were manufactured by Winchester.
Approximately 65,000 Model 1876s were manufactured;
however, only 3,310 were chambered in .50-95 Express.
Based on Houze’s research, around 30 of the 3,310 were
in deluxe configuration. The .50-95 Winchester Express
was the largest caliber available for the Model 1876 and proved popular
with big and dangerous game hunters. Many Model 1876 rifles chambered
for this powerful cartridge, like this rifle, were shipped to England and
then found their way to Africa and India where they were often employed
against big cats. The rifle has the Second Model receiver with screw-
fastened dust cover rail and dust cover with impressed oval “fingerprint.”
Made for the British market given the British “crown/V,” “crown/GP” and
“lion/VGP” proofmarks stamped along the left side of the barrel below the
rear sight and “crown/V” proofmark stamped on the top of the receiver.
The barrel has a standard sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade
and a sporting style buckhorn rear sight. The barrel, dust cover, loading
gate and buttplate are blued, and the forearm cap, receiver, hammer,
trigger and lever are color casehardened. The fancy grain walnut stock and
forearm have a high polish piano finish. The bottom of the pistol grip has
an ebony inlay. The top barrel flat 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.” ahead of the rear sight.