GUN FALL 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/4/2016
RARE AND VERY DESIRABLE WINCHESTER FIRST MODEL 1876 OPEN TOP RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER 73. WINCHESTER 1876 73 45-75 Cal. 45-75. 28" oct bbl. Blue finish. Full magazine. Straight grain American walnut stocks with crescent butt. Receiver is of the open top variety without dust cover. Bbl shows proper 2-line Winchester address rolled in front of rear-sight. Blade front-sight, semi buckhorn rear-sight. Receiver is of the first model type, lacking a dust cover or a guide-rail. Plain trigger. Lower left tang has assembly no. "107" stamped. Upper tang is marked Model 1876 without finials. Lower tang has SN engraved behind lever latch. Upper tang mortise in buttstock shows assembly no. "1578". Lower inside toe of buttplate shows assembly no. "107". Buttplate has a thick profile at toe. 2-pcs of a steel cleaning rod remain in butt. Accompanying this rifle is a Cody Museum Firearms Letter dated October 15, 2014, confirming features and showing shipment on July 20, 1877. Order number 9557. CONDITION: Very good. Bbl and magazine tube show a smooth gray-brown patina with some traces of blue, especially on left side of bbl. Bbl address is sharp. Bore is dark with visible rifling. Receiver is a mottled gray-brown patina with traces of orig finish near sideplates and around hammer, with some touch-up on top. Loading gate shows traces of blue. Elevator is a mottled mustard-brown patina with small dents on forward corners. Hammer is a silver-gray patina with a hint of case color. Lever is a plumb-brown patina overall. All markings are sharp. Buttstock is very good, slightly under-sized, and shows an old varnish finish overall. Buttplate is a crusty brown patina with some roughness on heel and toe. Forend is full-sized with an oil finish and handling marks overall with some stains. Forend cap is a silver-gray patina with some light pitting. An opportunity to purchase a very rare "Open Top" 76 rifle with a 2-digit SN. 50506-43 TEP (7,500-12,500)