Darrin Smith said
I checked the letter for my ’76 #2332, shipped 6/29/1878. It does have a “lid” installed but is noted on the letter as “mortise cover”. I had not thought to disassemble the rifle to check for hidden numbers however I may.Regards, Darrin
Does it have the mortise cover or the screwed on rail?
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]

1892takedown said
I would venture to guess an open top receiver for an 1876 was modified in the same manner as the 1873 to accommodate the addition of a dust cover by drilling and tap the top of the receiver to fasten a dust cover rail and dust cover. No need to change receivers. Now if you have an 1876 that is in the first model serial range that has a receiver that is milled with the dust cover rail as being integral to the receiver, then you would have a problem.I have SN 2545 which started out as a 45-75 with set trigger and 30″ oct barrel received in the warehouse 5/2/1878, then it was changed to a 45-60 with 30″ oct barrel, plain trigger. Shipped from the warehouse on 6/5/1880. When it was shipped it had the dust cover rail and dust cover added (converted), and there is no mention in the letter regarding a “lid”. It was one of the 70 or so guns mentioned by Houze that were changed from 45-75 with oct 30″ barrels with set trigger to 45-60 oct 30″ bbl with plain triggers. The assembly number 965 is found on the bolt assembly and lower tang, and assembly number 1213 on the buttplate and lower tang. The underside of the barrel has a star, “P”, and 123. Serial number is nowhere other than on the lower tang.
Very interesting. What book is that from.
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