This Winchester Model 1876 rifle was engraved and signed by master engraver John Ulrich. The receiver sides and top are decorated with Ulrich's distinctive scroll and border engraving on a punch-dot background. The left side plate is engraved with a highly detailed game scene that features a whitetail buck and the right side plate is engraved with an open ribbon. The scrollwork continues on the top of the receiver, dust cover, upper tang, bottom of the cartridge elevator and the sides of the forearm cap. "J. ULRICH" is stamped in tiny letters on the lower tang behind the trigger. The rifle has a blued full octagon barrel. The tip of the half-magazine, forearm cap, receiver, dust cover, cartridge elevator, bolt, hammer, trigger, lever, and shotgun buttplate are nickel plated. The forearm and pistol grip stock are deluxe, fancy grade, highly figured 4X walnut with 'Style H" checkering. The pistol grip has an ebony inlay. The barrel has a folding combination front sight and a Lyman two leaf folding rear sight. The front leaf has a wide v-notch notch and the rear leaf has a flat top and bright triangle. 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 designation: "CAL. 45-60" is hand engraved on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. "45-60" is roll-stamped on the bottom of the cartridge elevator in script letters. "MODEL.1876." is roll-stamped on the upper receiver tang, and the serial number "18464" is stamped in tiny letters across the lower tang between the lever latch and the rear tang screw. The rifle is accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter that lists the rifle features as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 45/60, Barrel Type: Octagon, Trigger: Plain, Full Nickel", and "1/2 Magazine". The letter states that this rifle was shipped from Winchester on November 8, 1881, and was received for repair and returned on August 25, 1896. Serial number 18463 (which would have preceded this rifle in the ledger) matches this rifle's configuration exactly apart from it has a plain trigger. RIAC sold serial number 18463 Winchester Model 1876 in our December 2007 auction. This rifle was nearer to the configuration of the factory letter for serial number 18464, in that is was a 45/60 rifle with octagon barrel it however had set triggers, half nickel and full magazine. The writer is unsure about the reason for the factory discrepancy about the configuration but is 100% certain that this is an authentic Ulrich engraved and signed Winchester Model 1876!

Very fine. The rifle retains 60% of the blue finish on the barrel and has developed an attractive plum-blue patina. The forearm cap, receiver, dust cover, hammer, lever and trigger have more than 80% of the nickel plated finish. The buttplate shows slightly more wear and retains 70% of the nickel finish. The flawlessly executed scrollwork, borders and game scene are crisp and John Ulrich's signature stamp is fully legible. The highly figured 4X fancy grain stock and forearm are in good condition. The checkering on the pistol grip and forearm shows moderate handling wear. This is a magnificent example of a scarce Deluxe Winchester Model 1876 rifle with the rarely encountered combination of blue and nickel plated finish in addition to engraving signed by master engraver John Ulrich.