September 20th 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/19/2015
Features a 26" barrel in .50 Express. Manufactured in 1887. The Winchester factory letter lists the following features of this rifle as: Type: rifle; Caliber: Express; Barrel type: octagon; Trigger: plain; Received in warehouse August 24th, 1887 and shipped October 11th, 1887. This rifle sports the 26" full octagon barrel, which was the standard length on the Express Models. With the full magazine, full blued finish, original Winchester sporting front and rear sights, walnut stocks, with rifle buttplate, and case colored hammer and lever. The barrel, tube and forend cap retain approximately 85-90% original factory blue finish with razor sharp edges and legends, with high edge wear on flats and minor age freckling. The magazine hanger is soft brown patina. The hammer and lever retain generous amounts of the original case colors visible. All screws head are excellent and retain some original blue finish. Left side of frame retains 80% original high polish factory blue from sideplate back, while the sideplate retains some of this bright blue finish along back edge, the balance is a smooth pleasing blue-brown patina. Right side of frame is in similar condition but the sideplate retains much more of the original high polish blue. Frame forward of the sideplates is a soft blue-brown patina which is exactly as would be expected, as that is the carry point on these large rifles. The original dust cover retains 50-60% of the original factory blue finish and is factory stamped in block letters," Winchester Express .50 Cal 95 GRS.". Even the rail retains 50% of the brilliant high polish factory blue finish. Walnut stocks are superb, proud to metal with no cracks or chips, and retain a majority of their original factory finish with just the usual minor impressions and a little shadowing from oil at buttplate. Bore is strong and shiny. Action is perfect. The Big .50 Winchester Model 1876 is one of the crown jewels of the Winchester lever action collecting fraternity and an all original untouched example that letters all the way and retains so much original factory finish makes this a prize in anyone's esteem. Simply gorgeous.