Manufactured in 1880, this rifle was ordered by the legendary Montana pioneer Granville Stuart for William S. Negus. The rifle has the special order inscription "W.S. Negus 1880" which was almost certainly executed by Winchester Master Engraver John Ulrich. A similar inscription can be seen on p. 84 and 96 of "Winchester Engraving" by Wilson, as well as on Granville Stuart's Model 1876 serial number 10001. William S. Negus was born in Michigan on 31 January 1837, where he remained until he was 20 years old. In 1857, the year he left his parents home, he married Ann McConnell, the daughter of Irish immigrants. He was involved in the livestock butchering business for five years before moving to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he continued in the same profession until about 1862, when he again moved, this time to Helena, Montana. He didn't remain in Helena long before moving to Nevada, where he first took interest in mining operations, as well as operating a boarding house until he moved back to Montana, where he operated a restaurant in Helena for a short time. Shortly after his return to Helena he began operating the stagecoach line between there and Blackfoot, which would eventually grow into a variety of stage lines. By 1874, Negus established a 1,200 acre ranch at Canyon Creek, about 25 miles outside of Helena. He continued operating in the stagecoach business as well as branching out into ranching, farming, and mining, being a co-owner of the successful Homestake Gold Mine near Helena. By the time of his death in 1888, Negus had become one of the wealthiest men in the region, and his estate was estimated at a value of $50,000-75,000. His wealth makes it interesting that in this order, his rifle was the least embellished of the three. It is very likely that due to their similar location and interests William Negus and Granville Stuart became friends or at the very least acquaintances. Much like Theodore Roosevelt, the Marquis de Mores, and Granville Stuart himself, it is likely that Negus was part of the Montana Stock Growers Association. Included with the rifle are copies of correspondence between Granville Stuart and Winchester Repeating Arms Co. Included in this correspondence, in a letter dated 6 February 1880, Stuart discusses ordering .50 Express rifles for himself and friends. Another letter dated 8 March 1880 includes the actual order from Stuart in which he orders a deluxe inscribed Winchester .50 Express Model 1876 for himself, his "Boss Game Gun of All Creation", which we previously sold for $287,500 in our December 2020 Premier Firearms Auction. Also in this order was this inscribed .50 Express Model 1876 for William Negus and another special order Model 1876 in .45-60 caliber inscribed to D.W. Curtiss. Also ordered with this rifle was a set of loading tools, 1,000 No. 3 1/2 primers, and a wiping rod. It is very possible that Negus and Curtiss, being close acquaintances of Stuart, were involved in his vigilante group, "Stuart's Stranglers" who began rounding up and killing cattle rustlers and horse thieves in 1884. This rifle has the appearance of "a working man's rifle", saving the fancy wood and engraving for its counterparts. The rifle itself is a Second Model with dust cover rail attached by two screws and the early pattern dust cover with thumb print grip. It has the desirable "WINCHESTER EXPRESS/.50 CAL. 95 GRS." caliber marking on the dust cover, standard two-line Winchester address/King's patents marking on the upper flat of the barrel and "50 CAL EXPRESS" caliber marking at the breech. The bottom of the cartridge elevator is marked "50-95", the model designation is on the upper tang, and the serial number is on the lower tang. The left side of the lower tang is marked "X 460", and "460" is repeated in the stock inlet and on the inside of the buttplate. The left sideplate is engraved with "W.S. Negus. 1880" which was almost certainly executed by John Ulrich, like the engraving on Stuart's "Boss Game Gun". The barrel is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and elevation adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight. It is mounted with a lightly figured smooth forearm and straight grip stock with special order sling swivels fitted with a leather sling and a trapdoor crescent buttplate which contains a five-piece cleaning rod. Provenance: The John Fox Collection

Very good plus, retains 25% original blue finish, faint traces of the original case colors, and traces of the original nitre blue on the loading gate with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina with some scattered brown spotting. Just like Stuart's "Boss Game Gun", it is clear this rifle was well cared for but heavily used on the Montana frontier, possibly in the hunting down of cattle rustlers and horse thieves. The wood is very good with some minor dings and scratches scattered throughout and retains most of the varnish. Mechanically excellent. This Winchester Model 1876 in the desirable .50 Express is an opportunity to add a tangible piece of the American West to your collection that shouldn't be missed!