This model was introduced in 1876 with a larger frame than the 1873 and offered larger calibers to the shooter. Manufactured from 1876 to 1897, with a total number of 63,871, making it one of the less common Winchesters. Production overlapped with the 1886. This example is in .45-60 caliber and is serial numbered 35401. It comes with a Cody Museum letter indicating it was received in the Winchester warehouse in August 1883 and shipped in August 1884.

The oil-finished stock has good, deep brown color with only minor handling marks, and a tight fit to the metal. The octagon barrel which measures 27 1/8”  has about 90 percent thin blue shading to plum, with stronger plum color on the magazine tube and thin gray wear lines along the edges. The muzzle face is crisp with just a little rubbing to the color around the edge. The barrel markings are crisp: WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT. / KING’S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29, 1866, OCTOBER 16. 1860. The CAL. 45-60 marking at rear of the barrel is sharp also, and the caliber marking is repeated on the bottom of the brass elevator in the receiver, though the “4” is a tad light in that marking. Both sights are in place. The rear site has good blue. The nosecap is thin plum. The magazine band shows rubbing to pewter.

The receiver base and forward rings show rubbing to pewter, but the receiver shows about 90 percent thin blue on the left with just slight shifting to plum toward the rear and strong blue right below the hammer. The right shows thin but bright color to the loading gate, strong blue just below the hammer, and good 90 percent coverage of the remainder with thing blue forward, shading to plum on the side plate aft of the loading gate. The lever and hammer show faded case. The tang has good mottled plum color with a crisp serial number. The screw slots are crisp. The hammer has a gray spot on either side back of the spur. The mechanics are good.

This is a very nice third model 1876 rifle that was made and shipped when things could still be pretty wild in the west and comes with its Cody Museum letter.  [sr]

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