GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
RARE SPECIAL ORDER WINCHESTER MODEL 1876 SADDLE RING CARBINE. WINCHESTER 1876 SRC 54730 45-75 Cal 45-75. Rare half nickel '76 carbine with 23-1/2" rnd bbl, barleycorn front sight bayonet lug with saber bayonet lug on right side of front band and 1876 marked carbine ladder rear sight. Bbl has standard address with caliber marking over the chamber area. Carbine is half nickel finish, 3rd type with integral dust cover rail and 3rd type dust cover. Receiver has a stud & ring in the left side. Mounted with 2 - 3 X uncheckered American walnut with full length forearm that has 2 bands and straight stock with carbine buttplate without trap. Lower tang, under the wood and buttplate are unmarked. Almost certainly this special order carbine was ordered by one of the Central or South American countries or by a U.S. company as a guard weapon. Another possibility is that it was used as an exhibition item. Given that most firearms of the 1885 era, when this carbine was produced, saw hard service on the American frontier it seems likely that this carbine never was carried in a saddle scabbard or wagon box. Regardless of its early ownership it saw very little use, just handling & poor storage. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum Records Office worksheet which identifies this carbine with half nickel & saber bayonet studs, received in warehouse October 30, 1886 and shipped November 8 1886 to order # 11452. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 93-95% strong orig blue with muzzle end wear from bayonet installation. Front band shows wear on the left side otherwise retains most of its orig glossy blue. Middle band retains about 90% bright blue with the losses from flaking, not wear. Receiver & sideplates retain about 80-85% orig nickel with the loss areas from flaking, not wear. Edges of receiver and sideplates remain crisp & sharp. Hammer retains brilliant case colors and the lever bright colors on the sides, faded on outer faces. Buttplate retains about 80% orig nickel. Both sides of the forward end of the forearm has a series of small dings otherwise wood is sound with a few light handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig factory varnish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 51687-8 JRL (25,000-40,000)