{"product_id":"original-u-s-winchester-model-1876-45-60-big-game-sporting-rifle-made-in-1882-with-28-round-barrel-and-factory-letter-serial-30109","title":"Original U.S. Winchester Model 1876 .45-60 Big Game Sporting Rifle Made in 1882 with 28\" Round Barrel and Factory Letter - Serial 30109","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. If you were looking to do some big game hunting with Teddy Roosevelt out in the \"Old West\", this is just what you need! This very fine example of the \"Second Model\" Winchester Model 1876 repeating rifle is in the \"big game hunting\" .40-60 Winchester caliber, with a 28\" round barrel and full length magazine tube. This barrel length identifies it as the \"Sporting Rifle\" version of the 1876 \"Centennial Model.\" Teddy Roosevelt's Model 1876, on the other hand, was one of those with the half octagonal barrel and half length magazine tube, and his gun was significantly more ornamented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCorrectly marked on the upper receiver tang with \u003cstrong\u003eMODEL. 1876.\u003c\/strong\u003e, the rifle is also marked with the caliber \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCAL 45 - 60\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e over the chamber on the barrel and \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e45 - 60\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e on the brass carrier block. It bears serial number \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e30109\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e on the lower receiver tang, denoting the year of manufacture as \u003cstrong\u003e1882\u003c\/strong\u003e. The barrel is fitted with a standard Winchester nickel blade front sight and rear adjustable ladder sight marked \u003cstrong\u003e1876\u003c\/strong\u003e at the top, which has an intact and functional slider.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis rifle came to us with an original factory letter from the Buffalo \u003cem\u003eBill Center of the West at the Cody Firearms Museum\u003c\/em\u003e, which now houses the original Winchester factory records. This is printed on \u003cstrong\u003eWINCHESTER REPEATING Fire Arms\u003c\/strong\u003e letterhead, and dated \u003cstrong\u003eAugust 06, 2025\u003c\/strong\u003e. It indicates that it is a \u003cstrong\u003eModel 1876 Rifle\u003c\/strong\u003e in \u003cstrong\u003e45\/60\u003c\/strong\u003e caliber with a \u003cstrong\u003eRound\u003c\/strong\u003e barrel. There is no indication of barrel length, which means it was made with the standard 28 inch \"Sporting Rifle\" barrel, so this rifle is still in the original configuration as shipped! The letter also indicates that the rifle was received in the warehouse \u003cstrong\u003eNovember 07, 1882\u003c\/strong\u003e, and shipped on \u003cstrong\u003eOctober 03, 1883\u003c\/strong\u003e as part of order \u003cstrong\u003e7758\u003c\/strong\u003e. There is no other information available for the serial number, but that is not uncommon for a rifle that did not see customization. The letter is signed by records specialist \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJessica A. Bennett\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e and still bears the correct raised seal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Winchester lever-action repeater is in lovely condition, with the original bluing and case hardening faded to a nice light gray patina overall. There is just a bit of past peppering in areas, and no major rust or other issues, and there is also some of the original bluing present on the barrel underside and near the rear sight. The engraving on top of the barrel is still fully legible:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN CT.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStocks are in very good \"frontier used\" condition, showing the lovely red brown color of oiled and aged walnut. Both show the usual dents and dings from use, as well scratching and other issues from service. The fore stock shows some gouges on the bottom, as well as some loss of wood near the receiver from wear and cleaning. The butt stock is also worn down a bit, and shows a dowel repair through the wrist. The crescent butt plate is in good shape, with a working storage compartment, though the tab for the door has been replaced. We also noted that the wood is well below the level of the plate from cleaning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis lever action repeater is offered with a crisp action in fully functional condition, with a working original dust cover. There is some slop in the mechanics, very common on the toggle link action, but we did not notice any sticking. The bore is in very good condition, showing a mostly bright finish with clear lands and grooves. There are signs of past fouling and oxidation from use, now cleaned away, and it looks to have been well cared for. We would rate this a 7-8 out of 10, definitely well above average.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lovely example of an iconic big game hunting rifle with a great bore, complete with a Winchester Factory letter! These are hard to find in any condition. Fully cleaned and ready for display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1882\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .45-60 Winchester\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 28 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 48 1\/2 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Lever Action Repeater\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 12-round tube magazine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Winchester Model 1876, or Centennial Model, was a heavier-framed rifle than the Models 1866 and 1873, the \"Guns that Won the West.\" The new design was chambered for full-powered centerfire rifle cartridges suitable for big-game hunting, rather than the handgun-sized rimfire and centerfire rounds of its predecessors. While similar in design to the 1873, the 1876 was actually based on a prototype 1868 lever-action rifle that was never commercially produced by Winchester.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduced to celebrate the American Centennial Exposition, the Model 1876 earned a reputation as a durable and powerful hunting rifle. Four versions were produced: a 22-inch (56 cm) barrel Carbine, a 26-inch (66 cm) barrel Express Rifle with a half-length magazine, a 28-inch (71 cm) barrel Sporting Rifle, and a 32-inch (81 cm) barrel Musket. Standard rifles had a blued finish while deluxe models were casehardened. Collectors identify a first model with no dust cover, a second model with a dust cover rail fastened by a screw, and a third model with an integral dust cover. Total production was 63,871 including 54 One of One Thousand Model 1876s and only seven of the One of One Hundred grade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginally chambered for the new .45-75 Winchester Centennial cartridge (designed to replicate the .45-70 ballistics in a shorter case), versions in .40-60 Winchester, .45-60 Winchester and .50-95 Express followed; the '76 in the latter chambering is the only repeater known to have been in widespread use by professional buffalo hunters. The Canadian North-West Mounted Police used the '76 in .45-75 as a standard long arm for many years with 750 rifles purchased for the force in 1883; the Mountie-model '76 carbine was also issued to the Texas Rangers. Theodore Roosevelt used an engraved, pistol-gripped half-magazine '76 during his early hunting expeditions in the West and praised it. A '76 was also found in the possession of Apache warrior Geronimo after his surrender in 1886.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Model 1876 toggle-link action receiver was too short to handle popular big-game cartridges, including the .45-70, and production ceased in 1897, as big-game hunters preferred the smoother Model 1886 action chambered for longer and more powerful cartridges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44570107281477,"sku":"ONSV2025NMS102","price":2995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV2025NMS102.jpg?v=1769210756","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-winchester-model-1876-45-60-big-game-sporting-rifle-made-in-1882-with-28-round-barrel-and-factory-letter-serial-30109","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}