Lot 12

Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1876 Rifle in .50-95 Ex.

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Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1876 Rifle in .50-95 Ex.

Estimate: $15,000 - $25,000

Starting Bid: $13,000

(0 Bids)

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

Highly Desirable Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1876 "Centennial" Lever Action Rifle in Documented .50-95 Express with Factory Letter Manufactured in 1881, this is solid example of a special ordered deluxe variation of Winchester's iconic "Centennial" rifle, the Model 1876, chambered in the ever-desirable .50-95 Express. The included factory letter lists the rifle in "Express caliber", casehardened finish, round barrel, plain trigger, half magazine, and a checkered pistol grip stock with a shotgun butt when received at the warehouse on 29 October 1881 and shipped on 30 October 1881 to order no. 27420. These Model 1876 rifles were marketed as the heavier hitting big brother of the legendary Winchester Model 1873, and an 1876 chambered in .50-95 Express was certainly the hardest hitting of the bunch. According to Winchester historian and author George Madis, out of the 63,871 total Model 1876s produced, one out of every nine rifles was casehardened, one of every 250 had a special length magazine, one out of every 420 had a pistol grip stock, one of every 540 had a special buttplate, and one of every 630 had checkered wood, making this particular rifle quite scarce, especially considering its caliber. This example has the Second Model receiver with the dust cover guide attached with two screws and dust cover with grip serrations at the rear and the Winchester Express caliber marking on top. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address, and the caliber marking is on the breech and repeated on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The upper tang has the model designation, and the serial number is marked on the lower tang, correctly perpendicular to the line of the rifle. The left side of the lower tang is marked "XX S 179", with "179" repeated in the stock inlet, and the inside of the buttplate marked "59". It is fitted with a No. 21 German silver blade front sight, an elevation adjustable No. 22 notch rear sight, and a pair of period installed sling swivels on the forearm cap and the bottom of the stock. It is mounted with a nicely figured forearm and pistol grip stock, both with factory H-pattern checkering, a horn insert in the base of the grip, and a smooth steel shotgun buttplate.

Manufacturer: Winchester

Model: 1876

BBL: 26 inch round

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 50-95 Express

Finish: blue/casehardened

Serial Number16731

Class: Antique

  • Condition: Very good, retains 20% plus of the original blue finish, traces of the attractively silvered out original case colors, and 20% of the original nitre blue on the loading gate with the balance mostly a grey patina, some scattered surface freckling and patches of light pitting, and a few scattered minor dings. The restored wood is also very good with some scattered minor dings and crisp checkering. Mechanically functions. A desirable example of the .50-95 Express Winchester Model 1876 rifle!

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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