October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/22/2019
Fine deluxe “Centennial” Winchester Model 1876 rifle with 28" octagon barrel, full magazine, combination front sight & elevator adjustable rear sight. Top flat of barrel has the Winchester & King address & patent dates and caliber marking over the chamber area. Mounted with 3X deluxe shell & flame grain American walnut with early style checkered forearm and serpentine grip buttstock that has ebony inlay in grip cap & crescent buttplate with trap. Receiver has single set trigger. Left side of lower tang, under the wood has the assembly number “2703” and “XXX”. Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. According to Blue Book of Antique American Firearms & Values, Fjelstad & Allen, there were 63,871 Model 1876 rifles & carbines produced in the period 1876-1897 in four different calibers and a variety of barrel lengths, both standard grade and deluxe plus muskets. Deluxe features on this model were special order only and are rarely encountered today. The Model 1876 was the first big bore repeating rifle offered on the American market. It was a favorite on the western frontier where the larger & heavier caliber bullets were capable of taking the very largest North American big game including grizzly bears, moose, elk, and buffalo. This model was a favorite of President Theodore Roosevelt which he carried on many hunting expeditions around the world. Deluxe versions of this rifle are quite rare with few encountered today. The extra cost of ordering such a rifle was generally prohibitive to the working man of that era and so few were ordered. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Overall the rifle retains 60-75% factory applied finishes with bright blue on the barrel and magazine tube and bright case colors on the receiver, side plates, lever, hammer & buttplate. Forend cap colors have faded. There is a hair-line crack back of the top tang, otherwise wood is sound and retains about all of a fine professionally cleaned Winchester style finish with excellent checkering. Set trigger functions properly,mechanics are crisp. Bright bore with good shine and scattered fine pitting. TDW