This is a nice example of a Deluxe Winchester Model 1876 Sporting Rifle with many special order features including the seldom encountered gold receiver. Manufactured in 1879, this rifle is an early Second Model with a dust cover guide that is secured to the receiver with two screws and has the checkered thumb oval on the dust cover. The top barrel flat is marked "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS.NEW HAVEN.CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH. 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860." ahead of the rear sight and "CAL. 45-60" at the breech. The brass cartridge elevator is engraved "45-60", the upper tang is marked "MODEL 1876." and the serial number is marked on the rear of the lower tang. The barrel is fitted with a dovetailed silver blade front sight and adjustable folding leaf rear sight graduated to 1,000 yards. The rifle is equipped with a special order single set trigger. The barrel and magazine tube are blue, casehardened hammer and lever, and the receiver, forend cap and buttplate have a special order gold plated finish. Mounted with special order deluxe checkered walnut forearm and pistol grip stock with an ebony inlay in the grip and a crescent buttplate. The accompanying factory letter verifies the rifle configuration, 40-65 caliber, octagon barrel, set trigger, pistol grip stock, Beach sights (front sight currently a blade), "gold trims", that it was received in the warehouse on October 14, 1879 and shipped out the next day.

Very fine. The rifle retains 70% of the original gold on the receiver, 30% on the forend cap and 20% on the buttplate with a smooth brown patina on the balance. The barrel retains 90% of the original blue finish with some flaking at the muzzle and some minor wear on the edges. The magazine tube has faded to a smooth deep plum patina with streaks of original blue finish. The sides of the hammer and loading lever have strong original case colors with a smooth mottled gray patina on the balance. The checkering is crisp. The stock wrist has a repaired crack through both sides and remains solid. Showing some scattered minor dents and dings. The markings are crisp. The action is excellent. This is a very fine example of a Deluxe Winchester Model 1876 lever action Rifle with rarely encountered documented gold plated receiver and many special order features.