Original U.S. Winchester Model 1876 .40-60 Big Game Sporting Rifle Made in 1885 with 28" Round Barrel and Factory Letter - Serial 51671

Original 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.

Correctly marked on the upper receiver tang with MODEL. 1876., the rifle is also marked with the caliber CAL 40 - 60 over the chamber on the barrel and 40 - 60 on the brass carrier block. Per our research only 9,275 M1876 rifles were made in this caliber, and only 6,612 of those were made with the 28" barrel. It bears serial number 51671 on the lower receiver tang, denoting the year of manufacture as 1885, though there is some disagreement between different sources, with some listing it as 1884 and some 1886. The barrel is fitted with a standard Winchester rod on blade front sight and rear adjustable ladder sight marked 1876 at the top.

This rifle also comes with an original factory letter from the Buffalo Bill Center of the West at the Cody Firearms Museum, which now houses the original Winchester factory records. This is printed on WINCHESTER REPEATING Fire Arms letterhead, and dated August 06, 2025. It indicates that it is a Model 1876 Rifle in 40/60 caliber with a Round 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 order for this rifle was received in the warehouse March 16, 1886, and shipped on June 01, 1886 as part of order 6836. 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 Jessica A. Bennett and still bears the correct raised seal.

This 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. The engraving on top of the barrel is still fully legible:

WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN CT.
KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860.

Stocks are in very good "frontier worn" condition, showing the lovely dark red brown color of oiled and aged walnut. They do look to have been varnished at some point, which is very well retained. Both show the usual dents and dings from use, as well scratching and other issues from long service. The butt stock in particular seems to have lost some of the wood from repeated cleanings, so the wood is below the level of the metalwork. The crescent butt plate is in good shape, however the storage compartment door is missing.

This lever action repeater is offered with a crisp tight action in fully functional condition, with a working original dust cover. We did not notice any of the sloppy movement that this type of action can develop over time. The bore is in good condition, showing a mostly bright finish with faint lands and grooves. It looks to have seen long use with many cleanings, but was well cared for, and we would rate it about a 5 out of 10.

A lovely service used example of an iconic big game hunting rifle, complete with a Winchester Factory letter! These are hard to find in any condition. Fully cleaned and ready for display!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1885
Caliber: .40-60 Winchester
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 28 Inches
Overall Length: 48 1/2 Inches
Action type: Lever Action Repeater
Feed System: 12-round tube magazine

The 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.

Introduced 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.

Originally 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.

The 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.

NOTE: 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.