Winchester Model 1876 rifle with Cody Firearms Museum letter that states it was shipped from Winchester on November 2, 1882. The letter describes the rifle features as caliber .45-60 with "1/2 octagon", 24-inch barrel, plain trigger, casehardened receiver and shotgun butt. The rifle has the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover guide and a dust cover with serrated edges. The special order half-round/half-octagon barrel has a custom front sight with brass blade and a folding adjustable leaf rear sight marked "1876". A folding combination rear sight marked "Pat. May 6/84" is mounted on the receiver tang. The barrel, magazine, dust cover and loading gate have a blue finish. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever and shotgun buttplate are casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight American walnut with an oil 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. "CAL. 45-60" is roll-stamped on the top of the barrel ahead of the receiver. "45-60" is stamped in script numerals on the underside of the cartridge elevator. The serial number, "28728" is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang behind the lever latch.

Very fine. The barrel and magazine have 60% original blue with the balance an attractive blue-brown patina; metal surfaces are smooth, the edges are sharp and the barrel markings are crisp. The blue finish on the dust cover has faded to a brown patina, but the loading gate retains 85% or more of the niter blue finish. The receiver, hammer, lever and buttplate have 40% of the original case colors remaining. The case colors are faded but retain most of the mottled gray finish. The case colors on the forearm cap show slightly more wear and have a silver patina. The stock and forearm are both fine with moderate handling wear. There are three old shallow scratches on the right side of the stock along the wrist and comb. This is a very good example of a very desirable Winchester Third Model 1876 rifle with special order barrel, tang sight and shotgun buttplate.