This is a very fine example of a Winchester Model 1876 Carbine with Cody Firearms Museum letter addressed to Mr. Hank Williams, Jr. The letter states that this carbine was shipped from Winchester on February 17, 1885, with 499 other arms as part of Order 18271. The carbine has the distinctive long forearm with blued steel forearm tip and a single barrel band secured by a band spring. A staple mounted saddle ring is located on the left side of the receiver. The Third Model receiver has a integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The barrel has a steel block front sight and folding leaf rear sight. The rear sight blade is marked "1876" and graduated to 1000 yards. The stock has a steel, carbine style, buttplate. The forearm tip, barrel band, barrel, receiver and dust cover have the Winchester commercial blue finish. The loading gate and bolt are niter blue. The hammer, loading lever and buttplate are color casehardened. The straight grain walnut stock and forearm are oil finished. 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./45/75" is stamped in two lines on the top of the barrel just in front of the receiver. "45-75" is stamped in script numerals across the brass cartridge elevator. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped with the model designation: "{ MODEL. 1876 }" in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The serial number, "43285" is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the lever latch and the tang screw.

Very fine. The carbine is all original and retains 70% plus of the blue finish. The barrel has finish loss on the left side of the muzzle. The finish on the top of the barrel is thin and has scattered patches of discoloration. The markings and caliber designation are sharp. The blue finish on the forearm tip and barrel band show moderate handling wear. The right front of the receiver and left side plate show handling wear and the blue finish has faded to a brown patina. The dust cover rail has cycling wear and the edges of the dust cover have some edge wear. The balance of the blue finish on the receiver is intact with some minor handling marks. The loading gate retains 90% or more of the fire blue finish. The hammer and lever retain 80% or more of the muted case colors. The case colors on the buttplate have aged to a mottled, gray, patina. The markings on the barrel, cartridge elevator and receiver are sharp. The stock and forearm are in very good-excellent condition; most of the original finish is intact and there is minimal handling and storage wear. This is a very fine, original, example of a scarce Winchester Third Model 1876 Carbine.