Early production Winchester Second Model 1876 Rifle with Cody Firearms Museum letter. The letter identifies this rifle, serial number "5394", as a Model 1876 Rifle with octagon barrel and plain trigger. The letter states that the rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on October 12, 1878. The rifle has a 28-inch octagon barrel and full length magazine. The receiver has the distinctive Second Model, screw fastened dust cover rail and the early dust cover with oval checkered finger guide. The barrel has a dovetail mounted sporting style front sight with nickel silver blade and a sporting style rear sight. The rear sight is probably a replacement and has an elevation screw rather than the stepped elevator usually found on Winchester sporting rear sights. The stock has a crescent steel buttplate with sliding brass trapdoor. The rifle has a blue finish on the barrel, magazine, forearm cap, receiver and dust cover. The hammer, loading gate and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The straight grain American walnut stock and forearm are oil finished. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS NEW HAVEN CT./KING"S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29, 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." ahead of the rear sight. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped "MODEL 1876." in fancy letters. The serial number "5394" is stamped on the lower receiver tang behind the lever latch in script numerals. Because this early rifle is chambered for the standard .45-75 W.C.F. cartridge there are no caliber markings on the barrel or the brass cartridge elevator.

Fine. The rifle shows moderate handling wear and retains nearly 50% of the original blue and casehardened finish. The barrel and magazine retain close to 95% of the commercial blue finish. The blue is thin on the top of the barrel behind the rear sight. The receiver has 80% of the blue finish. The blue on the side plates has faded to a plum patina and the edges of the side plates have light to moderate handling wear. Both sides of the receiver and both side plates have several insignificant scratches. The barrel and receiver markings are crisp. The dust cover has a dull silver-gray patina. The loading gate retains about 40% of the niter blue finish. The hammer and loading lever have strong case colors with some silvering on the top of the hammer and the bottom of the lever. The buttplate has a silver patina with some dark areas of age discoloration. The stock and forearm are in very good condition with light-moderate handling wear. There is a small (1/4-inch) chip in the upper edge of the left side of the forearm. The forearm has several light handling or storage marks. The stock shows slightly less handling wear than the forearm and is fine. The barrel and receiver markings are sharp. This is a fine example of a Winchester Model 1876 Lever Action Rifle.