Avatar
Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon
1876 shooter grade
Avatar
R.Marshall
Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 27
Member Since:
February 24, 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
February 25, 2019 - 8:06 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

first time posting.  I’m looking at buying this rifle. It looks like it was built in 1885 (ser#48174). This is my first Winchester and if I get it I will deer hunt with it. I have a lot of questions about this rifle. Does it look like the barrel and tube has been cut down? The barrel measures 23″ to the front of the receiver. I figure the front sight is wrong, is the rear sight original? The barrel my be marked ” CAL 45-60″ or 40-60 it’s hard to tell. It is marked 40-60 on the brass. The wood is solid. It seems to funtion ok but it looks like the bottom bullet catch may be broke. Asking price 2300.00. 

https://i.imgur.com/BunxG0X.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/qQvydXn.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/olsWgts.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/edyY14O.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/RlPb6BM.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/SVi2xpL.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/4uCMfVe.jpgImage Enlarger

Avatar
R.Marshall
Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 27
Member Since:
February 24, 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
February 25, 2019 - 8:11 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

a few more pictures.

https://i.imgur.com/Kz5iLDc.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/OWMErhZ.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/XSvKqJH.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/QVnpk7N.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/dG6dIUb.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/asdxDfA.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/Ngpavno.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/tBwGkRo.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/6ImJCAZ.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/hHR8FA2.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/DEwwgIj.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/LVl1HBb.jpgImage Enlarger

Avatar
Chuck
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 5873
Member Since:
March 31, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
February 25, 2019 - 9:07 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory

You measure the barrel from the muzzle to the end of the threads where it comes out of the receiver, not where it goes into the receiver.  The extractor looks OK.  One side is long and the other piece is short.  I am not sure if the barrel should be cut for a full length mag tube?  It looks like the barrel has been shortened at the muzzle?

Avatar
R.Marshall
Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 27
Member Since:
February 24, 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
February 25, 2019 - 9:31 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Thanks for the reply. I remeasured the barrel at 23 3/4″. Here is the front sight measurement.

https://i.imgur.com/GLcQpdg.jpgImage Enlarger

Avatar
1873man
Wisconsin
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 4703
Member Since:
May 2, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
February 25, 2019 - 9:43 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

The barrel has been cut short and the magazine tube has been cut short as well. The under cut on the bottom of the barrel is evidents of that. The rear barrel sight was probably the correct sight but the upper staff has been cut or broken off.

Bob

WACA Life Member---
NRA Life Member----
Cody Firearms member since 1991
Researching the Winchester 1873's

73_86cutaway.jpg

Email: [email protected]

Avatar
TR
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 1880
Member Since:
June 4, 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
6
February 25, 2019 - 9:47 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

  Robert,  The gun in the pictures has problems and probably not worth the money. The barrel is cut behind the barrel ban dove tail, magazine cut, front sight dove tail crudely added, poor bore, rust pitted, and maybe other problems not pictured. I would buy a honest 76 in 45-60 with a good bore, finish is not as important for a shooter, so buy what you can afford. 45-60 is easier and cheaper to reload using modern bullets and brass. If you buy a original gun at a fair price, selling it later will not be painful. T/R 

Avatar
Chuck
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 5873
Member Since:
March 31, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
7
February 25, 2019 - 10:04 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

TR said
  Robert,  The gun in the pictures has problems and probably not worth the money. The barrel is cut behind the barrel ban dove tail, magazine cut, front sight dove tail crudely added, poor bore, rust pitted, and maybe other problems not pictured. I would buy a honest 76 in 45-60 with a good bore, finish is not as important for a shooter, so buy what you can afford. 45-60 is easier and cheaper to reload using modern bullets and brass. If you buy a original gun at a fair price, selling it later will not be painful. T/R   

I was trying to be nice about the gun thinking he had already bought it.  After re reading his first post I see my error.  Tom, thanks for keeping us all straight.  Robert you need to run from this gun and the dealer that is selling it.

This is a good learning experience.  Guns with a shorter mag tube would not have the full length groove.  The front sight should be in a dovetail.  The standard length of most 76’s is 28″.

Avatar
R.Marshall
Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 27
Member Since:
February 24, 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
8
February 25, 2019 - 10:15 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Thanks for the reply. Here is a better picture of the rear sight and one that look similar. I had a feeling it had been cut down. 

https://i.imgur.com/6UMk0hH.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/KNDwPhF.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/5n2jUBv.jpgImage Enlarger

Avatar
1873man
Wisconsin
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 4703
Member Since:
May 2, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
9
February 25, 2019 - 10:31 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

This is what it looked like.

Bob

1876-winchester-rifle-ladder-rear-sight-3.jpgImage Enlarger

WACA Life Member---
NRA Life Member----
Cody Firearms member since 1991
Researching the Winchester 1873's

73_86cutaway.jpg

Email: [email protected]

Avatar
R.Marshall
Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 27
Member Since:
February 24, 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10
February 25, 2019 - 10:44 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Thanks for the help.

Avatar
Chuck
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 5873
Member Since:
March 31, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
11
February 25, 2019 - 11:12 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

R.Marshall said
Thanks for the reply. Here is a better picture of the rear sight and one that look similar. I had a feeling it had been cut down. 

https://i.imgur.com/6UMk0hH.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/KNDwPhF.jpgImage Enlarger

https://i.imgur.com/5n2jUBv.jpgImage Enlarger

  

This sight appears to have the staff broken off.  I still don’t think it was flattened.  There would have been something like this with an elevator laying forward of the base.IMG_0416.jpgImage Enlarger

sp_PlupAttachments Attachments
Avatar
win4575
Montana
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 700
Member Since:
November 2, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
12
February 26, 2019 - 2:16 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

R. Marshall,  Where did you find the sight in the 3rd photo, the one you say looks similar?

Avatar
R.Marshall
Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 27
Member Since:
February 24, 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
13
February 26, 2019 - 2:39 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

win4575 said
R. Marshall,  Where did you find the sight in the 3rd photo, the one you say looks similar?  

It was on a Winchester 1876 on “collector firearms” 

Avatar
win4575
Montana
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 700
Member Since:
November 2, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
14
February 26, 2019 - 5:03 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Just wondering, because that is an extremely rare and desirable rear sight.  It is probably an original long leaf sight for a ’76, but it was modified or redesigned by Freund & Bro.  They were famous for their many varied modifications of the Sharps Rifle.  Their rifle sights are highly prized collectors items.

Forum Timezone: UTC 0
Most Users Ever Online: 4623
Currently Online: tim tomlinson, Anthony, TXGunNut, 86Win, Ben, oldcrankyyankee, Edward Kitner
Guest(s) 32
Top Posters:
clarence: 7119
TXGunNut: 6470
Chuck: 5873
steve004: 5210
1873man: 4703
deerhunter: 2713
Big Larry: 2559
twobit: 2505
mrcvs: 2213
Maverick: 2042
Newest Members:
djwalsh
fzando
WASpalding
WinKorm94
Wallyg703
GunLegacy
tcwyb
spikemiller
ob98
Ricky Summer
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 18
Topics: 14816
Posts: 132584

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 2057
Members: 10053
Moderators: 3
Admins: 4
Administrators: Mike Hager, Bert H., JWA, SethJ
Moderators: Rob Kassab, Brad Dunbar, Heather
Navigation