Winchester Collector - Forum: Winchester Rifles

Bert H. on 1876 questions

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:31:59 +0000

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

Steven Gabrielli on 1876 questions

Wed, 20 May 2026 09:49:07 +0000

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.

TR on 1876 questions

Tue, 19 May 2026 18:24:27 +0000

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

Bill Hockett on 1876 questions

Tue, 19 May 2026 16:55:28 +0000

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.

Hotchkiss10 on 1876 questions

Mon, 18 May 2026 20:24:48 +0000

Hotchkiss10 on 1876 questions

Mon, 18 May 2026 18:10:33 +0000

I will get a picture and update the post. I’m measuring from the end to the shank.

Bert H. on 1876 questions

Mon, 18 May 2026 18:07:07 +0000

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

Zebulon on Model 71 Coming Up

Mon, 18 May 2026 17:44:50 +0000

MidwestCrisis said
I didn’t realize the cup of fire I was dealing with. I hope I gave the seasoned collector reading this a chuckle with my 550 max bid. I’m going to keep watching for the $600 model 71. Thanks to this forum I know how to spot a frankenchester.

Speaking as a figurative blade of grass, just remember what happens when the elephants fight.

Hotchkiss10 on 1876 questions

Mon, 18 May 2026 16:11:04 +0000

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?

Anthony on What do you think of this "Legion of Frontiersmen" LOF 1876 Winchester? Would you buy it?

Mon, 18 May 2026 14:33:45 +0000

I can surely appreciate this thread post, and the members who stepped up and helped out with this one, and adding they're knowledge with facts.

This one of the main reasons I keep coming back and staying active on the WACA Forum.

Nice job gentlemen!

Tony

Jeremy Scott. on What do you think of this "Legion of Frontiersmen" LOF 1876 Winchester? Would you buy it?

Mon, 18 May 2026 14:18:44 +0000

stavok said
Thanks for the responses- most appreciated! All the best!

Your welcome, James.

rogertherelic on Model 71 Coming Up

Mon, 18 May 2026 05:39:44 +0000

Thamks for your post. You never know where a question might lead or what other questions may be brought up and answered.

Somthing else that must be considered, this rifle was made at the height of the Great Depression! Everyone was cutting corners and "just doing what it took to get bye". RDB

MidwestCrisis on Model 71 Coming Up

Mon, 18 May 2026 04:40:07 +0000

I didn’t realize the cup of fire I was dealing with. I hope I gave the seasoned collector reading this a chuckle with my 550 max bid. I’m going to keep watching for the $600 model 71. Thanks to this forum I know how to spot a frankenchester.

Zebulon on Model 71 Coming Up

Mon, 18 May 2026 04:09:55 +0000

rogertherelic said
Just checked both of the sling's adjusting hooks with a maganet. Both the brass colored hooks and the silver colored hooks are magnetic! That would mean the brass colored hooks were brass plated steel. Perhaps both slings are counterfeit? That may be a possibility. If so, I been dupped again! RDB

Not likely. If they're early postwar, who knows. If anybody got duped it was Winchester. But, if we could bring Edwin Pugsley back to life, first words out of his mouth would be, "Winchester was not in the business of selling to collectors."

WRACO, like everybody else in the business, would have eaten a dead rat sandwich to get raw materials for product to make and sell to the hordes of postwar customers clamoring for manufactured goods.

Brass plated - what's not to like? Stand aside, please.