The Cody letter describes this Special Order Winchester Model 1876 rifle as: "Rifle, 45/60, Round barrel, Set trigger" and "Checkered stock". The letter further states that this rifle was shipped from Winchester on May 17, 1879. The rifle has the Second Model receiver with screw-fastened dust cover guide rail and dust cover with oval stamped, oval, finger guide. The 28-inch round barrel has a standard, sporting style, front sight with nickel-silver blade and folding ladder rear sight graduated to "10" and marked "1874" on the top of the leaf. The rifle has a single set trigger. Factory sling swivels are fitted to the forearm cap and stock. The crescent steel buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor and the butt trap contains a Winchester five-piece, jointed steel cleaning rod. The stock and forearm are highly figured, fancy grade walnut with factory checkering and a high polish piano finish. The barrel and magazine have a blue finish, the forearm cap, dust cover and receiver are high polish blue. The hammer, lever and buttplate are color casehardened. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29, 1865. OCTOBER 16. 1860", ahead of the rear sight. "CAL. 45-60" is stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "MODEL 1876" in fancy letters. The serial number is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang behind the lever latch. This rifle is illustrated and described on page 224 of "THE WINCHESTER BOOK" by George Madis.

Very good plus. The blue finish on the barrel and magazine has aged to an attractive plum patina. Traces of the original blue remain in protected areas. The top of the barrel has some scattered spots of age discoloration. The barrel and caliber markings are clear. The forearm cap retains 50% of the high polish blue finish. The receiver and side plates retain 30% of the bright blue finish in protected areas with browning on contact points. The front of the left side of the receiver and the right side plate show light scratches. The bright blue finish on the dust cover has aged to a blue-brown patina. The loading gate retains 25% of the fire blue finish. The hammer and lever have 40% of the casehardened finish. The buttplate has a smooth, dark brown, patina. The nicely figured, fancy grade, walnut stock and forearm are in very good condition with most of the wear concentrated on the stock wrist. The sides of the stock have scattered light scratches and handling marks. The checkering on the stock wrist shows moderate handling wear. The forearm checkering shows moderate handling wear. This is a solid representative example of a very desirable, documented, deluxe, special order, Winchester 1876 Centennial Model Rifle.