The letter describes this rifle as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 40/60, Barrel Type: Octagon, Trigger: Plain, Checkered stock, Pistol grip, Sights: Winchester Combination and Lyman Sights, 1/2 Magazine, Shotgun Butt", and "Casehardened". The letter further states that this rifle was shipped from Winchester on November 9, 1885. The rifle has the Third Type receiver with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated rear edge. The barrel, dust cover, loading gate, trigger and shotgun buttplate are blued, and the magazine tip, forearm cap, receiver, hammer and lever are color casehardened. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grade walnut with Winchester "Style H" checkering and a piano finish. The bottom of the pistol grip has an ebony inlay. The barrel has a Lyman "Hunting Front" sight with colored bead and a folding leaf rear sight graduated to "10" and marked "1876" at the top of the leaf. The upper receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866.OCTOBER 16. 1860." in two lines ahead of the rear sight. "CAL. 40-60" is roll-stamped between the rear sight and the receiver. The upper tang is roll-stamped: "-MODEL. 1876.-" in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end of the marking. The caliber "40-60" is roll-stamped in script numerals across the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number is stamped in tiny numerals across the lower tang behind the lever latch.

Fine. The receiver, forearm cap, hammer and lever retain 90% of the period, possibly factory casehardened finish with strong case colors. The barrel, dust cover and buttplate have been reblued. The reoiled stock and forearm are very fine with sharp checkering. Wear is limited to a few very minor storage marks. The quality of the restoration on the wood and metal components is outstanding and very difficult to detect. Deluxe Model 1876 Rifles with special order features are extremely scarce. This is an attractive example of a scarce and desirable Winchester Deluxe Model 1876 rifle.