The 1974 dated Winchester letter states: this "Winchester Model 1876 as a rifle, 22" round barrel, plain trigger. Casehardened. Checkered stock, pistol grip. Shotgun butt. Assembled November 4, 1885, no record of shipment". The rifle has the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover guide rail and dust cover with serrated rear edge. The special order 22-inch round barrel has a "Rocky Mountain" style front sight with blued steel blade 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 forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grade walnut with Winchester "Style H" checkering and high gloss piano finish. The stock has an ebony insert at the bottom of the pistol grip and a special order steel shotgun buttplate. The receiver and forearm cap are casehardened with vivid case colors. The hammer, trigger and lever are casehardened with more subdued colors. The barrel and magazine have a blue finish. The dust cover, loading gate and buttplate have a high polish blue finish. British "Crown/V, Crown/CP" and Nitro proof marks are stamped on the left side of the barrel below the rear sight. A "Crown/V" inspection mark is stamped on the top left side of the receiver. The top barrel flat 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 roll-stamped on the top barrel flat between the front sight and the receiver. "45-75" is stamped in script numerals across the cartridge elevator. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "{ MODEL. 1876.}" in fancy letters with decorative devices at either end of the marking. The serial number is stamped across the lower tang in fancy numerals between the lever latch and rear tang screw.

Exceptionally fine. This deluxe 1876 "Centennial Model" rifle is all original and retains 90% of the original deep and rich casehardened finish. The barrel, magazine and band retain 90% plus of the original blue finish. The Winchester legend, caliber markings and British proof marks are crisp. The dust cover and loading gate show slight handling wear but retain 85% plus of the high polish blue finish. 30% of the blue finish on the buttplate remains. The forearm cap and receiver retain 95% plus of the vivid case colors. The hammer, lever and trigger have 95% of the case colors vibrant in flashes. The deluxe, fancy grade, walnut stock and forearm are in excellent condition: at least 95% of the high polish piano finish is present, the checkering is very sharp and the stock and forearm are nearly free of handing or storage marks. This is an exceptional example of a special order Winchester Deluxe Model 1876 Sporting Rifle.