Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!

[dusty texian]

Thank's Grizz... The rifle,load can do better ,but had me on the trigger off hand......Dusty.

[Pitchy]

Say now that`s a handy lookin rifle Dusty, grats on getting it. 

[dusty texian]

Thank's Pitchy Ole Pard. Gonna try and get it out in a day or two, for some range testin. Will post the result's when I get done. Cool video  Pitchy, as always.....Dusty.

[Reddog Charlie]

Hey Dusty Texan:
Saw that you just acquired a 40 cal 1876.  They shoot great!  Hope you enjoy handloading  Just traded off my 1876 Winchester 40-65 WCF   Shot it quite a bit with cast bullets and Starline brass. Before Starline brass I had to form my 40-65 brass out of 45-70 cases.  Even used Hornady .405 Winchester 300 gr jacketed bullets.  Also shoot em through my Marlin 1881 40-60.  The Marlin chamber neck had to be reamed to accept a cast bullet of groove diameter. Marlin set up their 40 cal rifles to shoot a heeled bullet.   The Marlin shoots teriffic with the Hornady 300gr jacketed bullets.  Shot a nice 7 pt white tail @ 125yds.  The 1876 had a windgauge front sight and a tang rear sight.  It was set up more for target.  When you get ready, I could share some of my loading data on the 40-60/40-65 WCF.   Marlin called it 40-60 Marlin Winchester 40-65 WCF is the same.

Trying to build a 50-95 Express 1876 rifle.  Have an original receiver.  Trying to find a new octagonal cut rifled barrel.  Wonder if any readers of this post would know of a 50 cal cut rifled blank?  Green Mountain makes  button rifled barrels in various configurations but no broached or cut rifled. 

Hope you enjoy your new 1876 Winchester!

[dusty texian]

Very nice 1876 carbine's there Otis,like that rack also.Like to see more of them. Hey Reddog Charlie your right ,the 40-60wcf is a very fine cartridge. Always thought they were better than most give em credit for. Have found the 40-60 wcf, with a 260 or 280 gr.lead bullet, to be very accurate and pleasant to shoot and load for. My cut- down 1876 40/60 has been my rifle of choice this yr,backing up guest hunter's, and I feel comfortable that I can stop about any critter that would need it. Will get to do some hunting for myself ,soon and the 40-60 will again be my choice.  Thank's for offering your info on loading the old .40. Would be glad to exchange thought's on the 40s. Like to see more of your .50 build,,,,,,,,,,,,,Dusty

[dusty texian]

Howdy Red Dog,any luck finding a cut rifled .50 cal. barrel?How is the 50-95 build going?,,,,,Dusty

[levers]

I recently acquired an original 1876 rifle.  1877 manufacture serial #16xx, 23" oct. barrel, set trigger, dust cover (as per Cody letter), sling swivels, and whats odd is a grooved forend.  Also, serial number is stamped on underside of barrel and on the bolt.  Is this common?  Any thoughts on grooved forend?  It is milled to fit the barrel flats perfectly but no markings.  Buttstock has 3-digit number which matches number on lower tang.  Lower tang also has last 2 digits of serial number on it.  I'll get some pics shortly.  Thanks in advance.

[dusty texian]

Hello Levers, sounds like a very interesting 1876. Does the 23" barrel letter? With that sr# it is one of the early ones with a lid / dust cover.With sling swiveles and all the other non standard features , sounds like you have a Special order gun, that would explain the numbers on the tang sort of . But sr# numbers on the bolt and underside of the barrel is very uncommon, usually under the barrel there are inspection numbers only, as far as I know. Of course you know the numbers on the rear stock under the top tang are build numbers indicating that thestock is original to the rifle . Having numbers on the forearm ( and I dont like to say never) but numbers on the forearm are nonexistent! , I and I'll bet others here would really like to see some pics of this rifle. The grooved foreaem ? I'm not quite sure what you are describing. Would really like to see a pic. Congratulations you have a very unique rifle.,,,,DT

[levers]

The only things mentioned in the letter are:
Barrel: Octagon
Trigger: Set
Lid
Received in warehouse February 21, 1878 and shipped from warehouse on June 13, 1879.  Interesting it sat in the warehouse for so long.
The wood grain and color of the forearm match the buttsock and the cut in the forearm matches the octagon barrel perfectly.  The grooved forearm looks kind of like the forearm on a Win. 1895 SRC except not quite as deeply grooved.  I will get some pics up tonight.

[levers]

http://imageshack.com/a/img907/3661/A58nFR.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img633/9557/uUcNvX.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img911/3220/CKNIE9.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img633/2710/Ej2Vu3.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img903/4526/CqVrcb.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img905/3289/n9Mj2k.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img910/6554/2yWpLw.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img905/4735/1rnYOL.jpg

The gun in question is the gun in foreground of last pic.  Other 76 in last pic is third model standard 40-60 rifle.

[frichtie]

Hello all,
I'm new here and I just registered. It seems like this forum is the best for me to progress with my Model 1876.
It's a 50-95 Express, half octogonal barrelled with a shotgun type buttstock. Its tubular magazine was shortened to make it a half magazine, and it's currently missing the dust-cover.  I read parts from chaparral could fit? What do you people think? And...I almost forgot to mention this: The pistol-grip stock has been broken....and roughly glued back together. I'm from province of Quebec and had never seen a model 1876 before this one caught my eye!
-Eric

[pistol1911]

Love the rifle, shame about the butt stock. It looks to be well used and cared for except for the stock.

[frichtie]

Hello pistol1911, the rifle is actually pitted all over and yes, it's a shame.

It needs a complete restoration and I'm looking for some replacement parts. (dust-cover and full-length mag.)

It has a real potential and I should keep it until I can afford the special cares of a specialist.

Being a machinist myself, I have to investigate what I may do myself or leave to a professional restorer.

It's been in my safe for 6 months now...

-Eric

[Blackpowder Burn]

Frichtie,

You may want to try Homestead Parts (www.homesteadparts.com).  They have original, as well as manufacture new, parts for original Winchester and other firearms.  They do have dust covers in stock, as I just checked their web page.

Good luck with the restoration, and keep us posted.

[frichtie]

Thank you for the infos. I think the right to do first, is to get the parts I need. Then I can begin disassemble the rifle and take each metal part to the right guy for treatment. (Color-case hardening etc...)
I'm in no hurry.

18 monts ago, this very rifle, along with a model 1886, was put on the desk of a police officer by a previous owner who simply wanted to get rid of it. The officer sent him back home, with his rifles, after telling him that he should try to sell them otherwise they will be sent to a foundry for total destruction! HE GAVE THEM TO MY UNCLE. Who ultimately sold them to me!  Thank you officer.

[Slamfire]

 "SAY,,,WHAT!!!! Now how cool was that !!! CONGRADS. Make us "PROUD",& ENJOY.







Hootmix.

[King Medallion]

That is special! Very nice.

[pinto beans]

Mr. Dusty that is a very nice line up from the front of ya safe!! 

Thanks for sharing!

Hope clean up after the recent storm is going well and glad to see the 76s made it through with ya!!

PB

[Black River Smith]

Dusty,

You are a luck man.  But I am certain you earned it.  I know many of those have had your talented hands put them back into working order.  Enjoy them.

BRS

[dusty texian]

I do feel lucky Amigo's . The cleanup is getting along as well as can be .Cleaning a few 76's helps take my mind off of it .,,,DT