This Winchester Model 1876 "Short Rifle" was manufactured in 1883. The rifle has a special order 22-inch full octagon barrel and steel shotgun buttplate. This is a Third Model rifle which has the integral dust cover rail on the receiver and dust cover with serrated edges. The barrel has a standard sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and a folding leaf rear sight marked "1876" at the top of the leaf. The rifle has a full blue finish with the exception of the color casehardened hammer and loading lever. The walnut stock and forearm have a varnish finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860."ahead of the rear sight. The caliber "45-75", is stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver with the London "Crown/V" and "Crown/GP" proof and inspection marks along with "450" a punch mark and a third British proofmark are stamped on the left side of the barrel below the rear sight. A "Crown/V" inspection mark is also stamped on the top of the receiver. The bottom of the brass cartridge elevator is stamped with the caliber designation "45-75" in script numerals. "{MODEl 1876}" is stamped on the upper tang in fancy letters. The serial number "51730" is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the lever latch and the tang screw.

Extremely fine. The rifle retains 85% plus of the original blue finish overall. The forearm cap and buttplate retain 70% of the blue finish. The loading gate retains 70% niter blue. The hammer and lever have 75% of the casehardened finish intact with strong case colors.The barrel and receiver markings are crisp. The stock and forearm are both excellent and retain nearly all of the original varnish finish; wear is limited to several, very minor, storage and handling marks. This is an excellent example of a Winchester Model 1876 "Centennial" rifle in the very scarce special order "Short Rifle" configuration.