This deluxe, factory engraved, Winchester Model 1876 Express Rifle has a rare matted barrel. This rifle is accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter that describes this Model 1876 as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: Express, Barrel Type: Octagon, Trigger: Plain, Checkered stock, Pistol grip, Shotgun butt, Rubber butt, Casehardened, Engraved" and "Matted barrel". The Cody letter states that this rifle was shipped from Winchester on August 22, 1882. The rifle has the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover guide rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The full octagon barrel has a rarely encountered matted top flat and is fitted with a "Rocky Mountain" front sight with blue steel blade and flat top sporting rear sight. A Winchester folding peep sight with fifty minute graduations is mounted on the receiver tang. The forearm cap and sides of the lever have restrained factory scroll engraving. 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 stock is fitted with a black, hard rubber, checkered buttplate. The barrel lacks the normal Winchester legend due to the matted top flat. The caliber markings "50/CAL." are stamped on the right and left barrel flats respectively. The top of the dust cover is roll-stamped: "WINCHESTER EXPRESS/.50 CAL. 95 GRS." in two lines. "50-95" is roll-stamped in script numerals across the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number is stamped in tiny numbers across the lower tang behind the lever latch. The barrel and magazine have a blue finish. The dust cover and loading gate are niter blue and the forearm cap receiver, hammer, trigger and lever are casehardened.

Very fine. The barrel assembly retains 85% plus of the original blue; the finish is thin along the bottom of the magazine. The dust cover and loading gate have 90% plus of the niter blue finish. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, trigger and lever retain 80% of the slightly faded case colors. The engraving on the forearm cap and lever is crisp. The fancy grain stock and forearm are in very good overall condition with sharp checkering. The forearm has most of the original oil finish with handling wear between the rear of the checkered panel and the receiver. The stock has a semi-gloss finish and is slightly chipped along the top and bottom edge of the left wrist at the frame juncture. This is an attractive original Winchester Deluxe Model 1876 .50 Express rifle which highly desirable, special order features, including matted barrel and factory engraving.