Hi Burt,

That 1876 rifle has been with in the family for almost 50 years.  Back in the late 60’s and up until the later 70’s my dad owned a gun store and collected Winchesters and Colts, mostly 1873, 1876, and 1886 deluxe or special order guns.  He had some guy up in Wyoming or Montana somewhere (never did recall hearing who he was) that would come across high condition guns and ship them to my dad to see if he was interested.  I remember him telling me one time that if it was less than 90% condition he would send it back unless he already had a buyer.  Anyway, to make a long story shorter, he probably picked this one up somewhere along the way.  In 1976 the gun store burned down and never reopened.  By that time he had started selling off some of his collection to get more into the cattle business.   It makes me cringe to think of some of the guns he once owned but he always said he made more money in the cattle business than he did in the gun business.  For this particular rifle, he said he never sold it because it was lesser condition and didnt think there was much demand or something to that effect.  When I asked him what it looked like before the fire he said it was in about 70-80% condition.  The rifle was damaged pretty bad in the fire (hanging on the wall in the store), the stocks are dark, almost charred in places, and there is no finish left and is heavily pitted, likely from not being mitigated right after the fire and subsequently being stored under the bed in a scabbard.

The serial is late production #63827, in 45-75, H checked deluxe pg, standard barrel length with swivels, 7 leaf express sight, beaches front sight, and believe long range tang sight, set trigger.   Originally had a case hardened receiver if I remember right (cant find the letter).  Dont believe the sling swivels letter to the gun but pretty sure they belong there.  There were 7-8 others in similar configuration shipped.  Ive managed to find one in a 1970’s Gun Report classified that was consecutive to this one, and one other that was a serial digit off. 

From an early age I was always drawn to the 1876 rifles, still am, but my pocket book is only so deep. 

Hopefully it will be passed along in the family along with the 1894 Winchesters my grandfather and grandmother used for hunting.   

Chris

Burt,

Thanks for posting the pic–thats a nice 76 deluxe in one of my favorite barrel/mag configurations for any model–OB with button mag.  The only thing better (for me) would be a 1/2 oct with full mag.   As you said, most of the 50EX rifles Ive seen have had British proofs.

Chris