The copied letter describes this Winchester Model 1876 as: "Rifle, 45/60 caliber, Barrel Shape: Round" and "Plain trigger". The letter states this rifle was shipped from Winchester on October 28, 1885. This rifle has the third model receiver with integral dust cover guide rail and dust cover with serrated finger guide along the rear edge. The crescent buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor. The butt trap contains a five-piece, jointed, steel cleaning rod. The standard length, 28-inch, round barrel has a Marble No. 2 front sight with gold bead and buckhorn, sporting style rear sight with adjustable center-piece. A folding graduated peep sight with fifty minute graduations is mounted on the upper receiver tang. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." ahead of the rear sight. "CAL. 45-60" is roll-stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. "45-60" is stamped in script numerals across the bottom of the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the lever latch and rear tang screw. The rifle has a blue finish on the barrel and magazine with bright blue receiver, side plates, dust cover, trigger and crescent buttplate. The loading gate has a fire blue finish. The hammer and lever are casehardened with muted case colors. The straight grain American walnut stock and forearm have a varnish finish.

Very fine. 85% of the original blue is present on the barrel and magazine; wear is limited to some traces of finish loss at the muzzle and some scattered and very insignificant spots of age discoloration. The Winchester legend and caliber markings are sharp. The front sight is a period Marble No. 2 marked replacement. The forearm cap, receiver, side-plates and dust cover have at least 90% of the bright blue finish. The sides of the receiver and side plates have scattered light scratches and handling marks with some small spots of age discoloration. The loading gate retains 80% of the original nitre blue finish. The buttplate has 70% of the bright blue finish. The hammer and sides of the lever have 70% of the muted case colors. The case colors on the bottom of the lever shows handling wear and have faded to a gray-brown patina. The straight grain revarnished walnut stock and forearm are in fine overall condition and retain 85% of the varnish finish with scattered minor handling and storage marks. This is a very fine example of a very fine Winchester Centennial Model 1876 rifle.