GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
RARE SPECIAL ORDER WINCHESTER MODEL 1876 WITH EXTRA HEAVY BARREL WITH FACTORY LETTER. WINCHESTER 1876 52836 40-60 Cal. 40-60. Standard Grade rifle with special order 26" extra heavy oct bbl with full magazine, altered Rocky Mountain front sight and a later replacement Winchester semi-buck horn rear sight. Muzzle of the bbl measures 1" across the flats. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate that has a trap. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter that lists this firearm as a rifle in cal 40-60 with 26" extra heavy oct bbl and set trigger, received in the warehouse July 2, 1886 and shipped July 8, 1886 to order no. 6937. This rifle was probably ordered by a western big game hunter who anticipated doing lots of continuous shooting. The extra heavy bbl provided muzzle stability and reduced recoil while dissipating the heat of repeated firing without warping & losing accuracy. Firearms of the 1880's era usually saw hard and continuous service in generally inclement weather in harsh circumstances, often with little or no maintenance and are rarely found today in orig configuration with any orig finish. CONDITION: Good. Bbbl and magazine tube show no orig finish remaining being an overall cleaned gray metal patina with a few minor nicks and scatters spots of surface rust. Receiver shows traces of orig blue around the side plates and in the most sheltered areas with the balance a cleaned metal patina and light surface pitting. Lever and hammer show traces of silvered case colors. Forearm has a repaired splinter in the right bbl channel otherwise wood is sound with a fine, recently restored finish. Mechanics are crisp. Strong bore wit good rifling and moderate pitting. A very rare rifle that saw hard frontier service. 52506-8 JRL (6,000-10,000)