GUN SPRING 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/21/2018
HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT WINCHESTER MODEL 1876 RIFLE MARKED "FROM W.F. SHEARD LIVINGSTON MONT".WINCHESTER18765376645-60Cal. 45-60. 28" oct bbl, half magazine, full blue finish, straight grain American walnut stocks with crescent buttplate. Bbl shows 2-line Winchester address and patent mark rolled in front of rear sight. "FROM W.F. SHEARED / LIVINGSTON MONT" is stamped behind rear sight. Cal. is marked on top flat at breech. Front sight is of the Sheard patent design originally with ivory bead, though this specimen has contemporary non-ivory white chip replacing bead and checkered rear face. Rear sight is standard Winchester 1876 ladder type marked "1876" on top of leaf. Rifle is equipped with a tall leaf peep tang sight that is graduated to 50 minutes of angle. SN is stamped on lower tang behind lever latch. William F. Sheard was a Montana Territorial gunsmith who was located in Livingston Montana Territory from 1884-1895. He then moved to Tacoma, Washington. He patented a unique front sight for rifles. He later sold the patent to Marble Gunsight Co. Rifles with his sight and Montana mark are highly desired by Old West collectors. Rifle is accompanied by a Winchester Gun Museum letter dated June 6, 1962 that was written to Mr. Lewis Yearout. This rifle is on that list and confirms Cal., bbl, trigger and magazine and shows shipment on May 14, 1886. CONDITION: Very good. Bbl shows some traces of blue finish with balance being a mottled, crusty un-touched blue/brown patina. Front sight is very good and retains remnants of the orig ivory bead. Rear sight is also very good. Bbl markings are sharp. Bore is dark with visible rifling. Receiver retains 30% of orig blue finish with balance drifting to a plum/brown uncleaned patina. Left sideplate show striation markings. Receiver has handling marks overall with a few scratches. Hammer and lever are a crusty brown patina with some hint of case color in protected areas. Tang sight is very good and retains considerable orig blue finish. Graduation marks are clear. Stocks are very good, full sized and do not appear to ever been removed from this rifle. Stocks show a considerable amount of orig varnish finish with numerous handling marks, dents and scratches overall, commensurate with age and use of this rifle. Buttplate is a mottled silver/grey patina with erosion on heel and toe. Forend cap and magazine cap both show a smooth silver/grey patina. Mechanics are crisp. An opportunity to purchase a Winchester Model 1876 rifle with a positive association to Territorial Montana in the un-touched condition that collectors cherish. 53140-1 TEP (4,000-4,500)