Lot 7

Special Order Winchester Second Model 1876 Lever Action Rifle

Previous image preload Next image preload

Special Order Winchester Second Model 1876 Lever Action Rifle

Estimate: $80,000 - $150,000

Starting Bid: $70,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 21, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Outstanding Special Order Winchester "Centennial" Model 1876 Lever Action Rifle with Desirable Casehardened Receiver and Factory Letter The Winchester Model 1876 Rifle made its public debut in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition where it garnered the title "The Centennial Model" in honor of the Revolutionary War. By all accounts the Model 1876 was "a revolutionary gun," as legendary Winchester expert George Madis pointed out. Originally chambered in only .45-75 WCF cartridge, the Model 1876 offered a larger caliber for customers, particularly those out West, who believed .44-40 WCF lacked the stopping power for whatever came their way. With only 63,871 rifles and carbines manufactured between 1876 and 1897 surviving examples of the Centennial rifle are scarce, especially those in high condition. The Model 1876 was a "working man's gun" and thus surviving examples display all the character of hard use. This example, however, remains in excellent condition, worthy of the finest public or private collection. The rifle was manufactured in 1881, when a powerful rifle would have still been highly valued on the wild Western frontier. It has special order casehardened, later Second Model receiver with the dust cover guide retained with two screws and a dust cover with grip serrations at the rear. The included factory letter lists the rifle in .45-60 caliber with a round barrel, plain trigger, and casehardened finish when received at the warehouse on 3 August 1881 and shipped on 6 August 1881 to order number 27082. Winchester expert George Madis notes that only one out of every nine Model 1876s received a casehardened finish. It has a round barrel which was very scarce in this model, Madis noting that approximately 2/3 of Model 1876s produced had an octagon barrel. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address and King's patent marking ahead of the rear sight, with the caliber marking at the breech ("CAL. 45-60"). The caliber marking is repeated on the bottom of the cartridge elevator: "45-60." The model designation is marked on the upper tang, and the serial number is marked on the lower tang. The left side of the lower tang is marked "1156CF", with the assembly number "1156" repeated in the stock inlet along with the letter "P", as well as inside the buttplate. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and a folding ladder rear sight which is marked "1876". It is mounted with a nicely figured, smooth forearm and straight grip oil finish stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate containing an included four-piece cleaning rod. This slightly higher than standard grade wood was typically chosen by Winchester for rifles ordered with "standard" wood but other special order features.

Manufacturer: Winchester

Model: 1876

BBL: 28 inch round

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 45-60 WCF

Finish: blue/casehardened

Serial Number14488

Class: Antique

  • Condition: Excellent, retains 97% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish and 95% plus of the vibrant original case colors. 90% plus bright original nitre blue remains on the loading gate. The wood is also excellent with some scattered very light scratches and dings, and displaying its fine attractive figure well. Mechanically excellent. Winchester Model 1876 rifles were often used hard as working guns on the Western frontier and thus, examples in outstanding condition like this one are incredibly rare! Writer believes this to be the finest known Model 1876 of its specific configuration.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Rock Island Auction will contact you shortly after the auction has completed. We will arrange for shipping and or pickup.

Rock Island Auction Company

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 30% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000