This rifle has the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover rail and late dust cover with serrated edges. The Winchester letter describes it as: "rifle, 24 inch octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered stock, pistol grip, copper front sight, shot gun butt, case hardened" and "name plate on end of pistol grip". The rifle has a blued barrel, magazine tube, dust cover and loading gate. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, trigger, lever and shotgun buttplate are color casehardened. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grade walnut with Winchester "Style H" checkering and a high polish piano finish. The bottom of the pistol grip is inlaid with a silver inscription plate. The plate is not inscribed. The barrel has a dovetail mounted front sight with distinctive flat back copper blade and standard sporting style folding leaf rear sight. The rear sight leaf is graduated to "10" and marked "1876" below the elevator bar stop screw. A folding, graduated peep sight is mounted on the upper receiver tang. 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. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped "CAL. 40-60" between the rear sight and the receiver. "40-60" is stamped in script numerals across the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The serial number, "42489", is stamped in small numerals across the lower tang between the lever latch and the tang screw.

Fine. The barrel and magazine tube retain 60% of the original blue finish. The barrel shows light edge wear but retains nearly all of the original blue finish. The Winchester legend and caliber markings are crisp. The magazine tube has faded to a plum patina. The dust cover retains about 70% of the blue finish. Half of the fire blue finish is present on the loading gate. The case colors on the exposed areas of the forearm cap, receiver, hammer, trigger and lever have faded to a mottled silver-gray. Strong case colors are present on the lower receiver tang and protected areas. The casehardened finish on the buttplate shows more wear and has a dark patina with scattered minor scratches. The highly figured walnut stock and forearm remain in very good overall condition. At least 80% of the original high polish piano finish remains. The checkering on the pistol grip and forearm remains sharp. Wear is limited to scattered minor handling and storage marks. This is an attractive original, example of a special order Winchester deluxe 1876 "Centennial Model" rifle.