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March 15, 2025
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This was my grandpas 1876 45-60. Just looking it over it has a 26inch octagon barrel, from books it looks like most had 28inch. It has a full mag tube. Would this be considered a carbine with an octagon barrel?
April 15, 2005
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No, it is not a Carbine. If the barrel is actually 26-inches, it is a special order “short” rifle. In your measurement of the barrel, did you include the threaded barrel shank that extends to the rear edge of the frame ring?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 15, 2025
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I will get a picture and update the post. I’m measuring from the end to the shank.
March 15, 2025
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July 31, 2005
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Based on your measurements it does appear to be a 26 inch barrel. As Bert mentioned, that is a special order barrel, two inches shorter than standard. It should letter that way.
Express rifles had 26 inch barrels as standard.
That’s a nice family heirloom.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
June 4, 2017
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According to Herbert Houze’s book Winchester made 2051 45-60s with 26″ barrels as compared to the standard length 28″ which they made 20,211. The 50-95 was standard with a 26″ barrel and Winchester only made 1856. This is a much higher percentage of total production because they only made 3284 50-95 rifles.
I own four 1876s in 45-60 and all but one has a 26″ barrel. I do not consider the barrel length of 26″ to be rare in that caliber. Maybe the extra length of the 28″ barrel was not important in that caliber or the shorter barrel length was just easier to handle. T/R
August 14, 2021
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Just for future reference, the easiest way to measure the barrel length is to close the action and put a cleaning rod down, mark the end of the rod at the muzzle, pull it out and measure.
April 15, 2005
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TR said
According to Herbert Houze’s book Winchester made 2051 45-60s with 26″ barrels as compared to the standard length 28″ which they made 20,211. The 50-95 was standard with a 26″ barrel and Winchester only made 1856. This is a much higher percentage of total production because they only made 3284 50-95 rifles.
I own four 1876s in 45-60 and all but one has a 26″ barrel. I do not consider the barrel length of 26″ to be rare in that caliber. Maybe the extra length of the 28″ barrel was not important in that caliber or the shorter barrel length was just easier to handle. T/R
Interesting observation. “Standard” barrel lengths for the many different Models, calibers, & cartridges is a study in of itself!
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 15, 2025
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Thanks for all the answers! It could have been one of my great great grandpas or his brothers. We will probably never know! I will work on getting a letter and such. The family has been in the same area since 1880s so they might have got it sometime back then!
March 15, 2025
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March 15, 2025
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March 15, 2025
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It’s not a Winchester but this was my 3rd great grandpas sharps.
March 15, 2025
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March 31, 2009
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Hotchkiss10 said
It’s not a Winchester but this was my 3rd great grandpas sharps.
What model is the Freunds Sharp? Show a picture of the entire rifle. Any Sharps that went through Freunds shop in Wyoming has an added value over a regular sharps. And being engraved adds more value.
March 15, 2025
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I’ll add some more pictures.
March 15, 2025
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I’m unsure of the model. I’m guessing an 1874? It’s currently in the town museum along with some others. My dad lives in Enos T original house now so maybe one day we can get it back to his house!
March 31, 2009
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You can get a Factory letter for your rifle. Contact Tisha Johnson at [email protected]. She will need the Model and serial number. If you have an interest in Sharps there is a fairly new 5 book set that you can order from the Sharps collectors. You may want to buy Vol III.
My guess is that your rifle is a Model 1877 Sporting Rifle modified by Freund.
March 15, 2025
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I cleaned up this Winchester a bit and on the stock it has some numbers. Also has numbers on the frame. Should these numbers match the serial number?
April 15, 2005
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Hotchkiss10 said
I cleaned up this Winchester a bit and on the stock it has some numbers. Also has numbers on the frame. Should these numbers match the serial number?
No, they should not. The numbers you found are assembly numbers used to pair up the parts again during final assembly after being returned from final finishing. The numbers were usually stamped on the inside left side of the lower tang and in the upper tang stock channel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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