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I have just acquired a nice 75-80% 76 in 45-75 caliber. The serial number is 267x. It has the thumb print dust cover and a second pin through the receiver behind the trigger pin. What is the second pin for? Is this for the trigger block? The bore is perfect and the wood has its normal use mark comensurate with its age.The information I have seems to indicate this number should have no cover. I have another 76 not as nice bore but it does shoot to the original sights. The caliber is 45-60. Its an 1882 built gun with only one pin through the receiver, the trigger pin I assume and it has the standard finger groove dust cover. Both are 28in round barrels.
What I’m wondering about is was winchester just switching 73’s to thumb print dust covers in 1877 or were they dumb enough to repeat their first mistake in repeating the use of the thumbprint dust cover on the 76? I would assume the 76 being later and supposedly imporved, they would have used the late model finger groove dust cover. I would like to know about the second pin behind the trigger pin.
I have already gotten 45-75 brass and dies and am just waiting for spring so I can see how this piece of history shoots.
Thanks for any info you can supply.
The 73 used the thumb print cover until about 1879 then they went to the later style with the serrations and the 76 used the thumb print up to about 1882. Is the extra pin exposed or is it under the stock? Does it have a set trigger? if its under the stock its for the trigger block. If its exposed and behind the trigger its for a set trigger.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Model 1876’s to serial number 1600 had no dust covers. From 1600 to 3000 they seldom had dust covers and from 3000 to 4500 they usually had dust covers. After that they always had dust covers.
The first dust covers used, until around serial number 7000 were of the thumbprint type. The dust cover rail should be a screwed in add-on until shortly after serial number 25,000. After that the rail was milled as part of the receiver.
The second pin in question is for a set trigger. It should be just under 3/8″ to the rear of the trigger pin (center to center). (See 1st photo.) This hole is only present when a set trigger was installed at the factory, so you should have one on your rifle. If you don’t have the set trigger, check the trigger opening for a rectangular slot to the rear right of the trigger opening. (See 2nd photo.)
It appears that your rifle has the correct dust cover, based on the serial number, and should have a set trigger. Since you didn’t mention the latter, it may have been changed or the set screw is missing or broken.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
Thanks for the dissapionting news. I took the butt stock off and removed the hammer. there was no fly on the hammer and no extra parts to fill the rectangular slot by the trigger. The pin clearly meant for a set trigger was just both ends in the holes as fillers.looks like it was meant for a set trigger but had it changed before shipment??????
Best to find out from the Cody Museum if your rifle shipped with a set trigger or not. I don’t know enough about the Model 1876’s to make any kind of guess as to whether Winchester would drill a hole through the lower receiver for the set trigger and mill the trigger hole with the slot for the set trigger and then ship it out without installing one.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
WINCACHER- My gun and your pictures match with the exception of my remarks above. the ends of the pins are excellent and have no damage to their round ends. there is a second set of holes in the tang behind the set trigger holes with nothing in them. also they are not visible with the stock in place.there is so little information available at cody I can’t justify the price for a date into and out of shipping. I’m not sure if they would say whether the set trigger was installed then cancelled or what. Since it was not advertised as having a set trigger, I was not cheated, just disappointed. I have made up some loads with new Jamieson brass and have located a hole box of clean original ammo for display.
That’s a nice find on the intact and complete box of original ammo. There’s another thread here about original ammo & boxes – some photos of your sample would be a nice addition. When I got my 1876 (some 30 years ago) I had to shorten and size-down some 45-70 cases to make shootable ammo for my 40-60. Its nice that brass is now being manufactured for the classic old rifles.
I hear you on the cost of letters. Perhaps somewhere along the line you can find someone who can get free specs from Cody over the phone.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
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