GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
FINE WINCHESTER MODEL 1876 "BIG 50" LEVER ACTION RIFLE.WINCHESTER18762040950-95Cal. 50-95. Standard grade rifle with 26" rnd bbl, full magazine, slightly altered half nickel front sight and 1873-style, short, semi-buckhorn rear sight with checkered edges. Top of bbl, forward of rear sight has the 2-line Winchester and King's 2-line address with chamber area marked "50-CAL.". Receiver is 2nd type with attached dust cover rail containing a 3rd type dust cover which is marked "WINCHESTER EXPRESS / 50 CAL. 95 GRS". Bottom of carrier is marked "50-95". Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate that has a trap containing an orig 5-pc brass & iron cleaning rod. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with assembly no. 394 with matching assembly number in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Bottom of stock and forend cap have factory sling swivels. This rifle was produced about 1881 at a time when the West was still wild with marauding Indians and carrying a rifle was an everyday working tool. These big 50 rifles were very effective hunting arms, especially for the larger wild game of North America, Canada and Alaska, up to and including the great bears of Alaska and the Arctic. Many of these rifles in the big 50 cal. were also used extensively in Africa against the big game over there. Standard grade rifles, such as found here were a working man's tool and usually saw hard and continuous service. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching. Bbl and magazine tube retain 95-97% strong orig blue with a nick on the bbl and magazine tube and a couple of spots of surface discoloration. Receiver and sideplates retain 80-85% orig blue with most of the losses on the sideplates and bottom front edges, which have turned to a light patina. Remainder of receiver shows very bright blue in sheltered areas. Hammer retains brilliant case colors, lightly faded on right side. Lever retains strong but faded case colors on left side and in protected areas, being a brown patina elsewhere. Forend cap retains about 85% orig blue and buttplate about 60%. Stock has a long bruise at the left heel with the wood overall showing light scratches and retains most of its orig finish. Mechanics are crisp. Brilliant shiny bore, shows very little use. 52609-1 JRL (14,000-21,000)