Winchester Model 1876 lever action musket with Cody Firearms Office letter. The Cody letter describes this musket as: "Type: Musket, Sights: Baker" and states that it was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on May 19, 1879. The Musket has the Second Model receiver with screw-fastened dust cover rail and dust cover with oval, checkered, finger guide. The musket has the distinctive blued steel forearm cap and cleaning rod secured by a loop on the left side of the forearm cap. The 32-inch round barrel has a front sight with steel block base for a socket bayonet and Henry style folding leaf rear sight with 900 yard center notch. Sling swivels are mounted on the barrel band and stock. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. OCTOBER 16. 1860." in two lines between the barrel band and rear sight. British "Crown/CP", Crown/V" and proof marks are stamped on the left side of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. "450" is stamped on the right side of the barrel just ahead of the receiver. A small "Crown/V" is stamped on the top of the receiver ahead and to the left of the ejection port. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "MODEL. 1876." in fancy letters. The serial number is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the lever latch and rear tang screw. The barrel and brass cartridge elevator are, correctly, not stamped with a caliber designation. The barrel, magazine tip, forearm cap, barrel band, receiver, and dust cover have a blue finish. The loading port cover is fire blue. The cleaning rod is bright. The hammer, trigger, lever and carbine style buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain, oil finished walnut.

Extremely fine. This rare Model 1876 Musket is all original and retains at 85% of the original blue and color casehardened finish. The barrel has some scuff marks at the muzzle from contact with the socket bayonet and some finish loss on the left side of the barrel band. The blue on the dust cover has flaked and 70% remains. Most of the blue remains on the receiver; wear is limited to a few very insignificant handling marks. The loading gate retains 95% plus of the fire blue finish. The hammer, trigger and lever have 95% of the casehardened finish. The buttplate retains 90% of the faded case colors with silvering on the heel and toe. The walnut stock and forearm remain in excellent condition with 95% of the original finish and only a few scattered and very insignificant handling and storage marks. This is an exceptional example of a rare Winchester Model 1876 Musket that would be extremely difficult to improve upon.