I have a 1876 and I am looking to learn as much as I can about it. Need help...This is what I know. 45-60 Serial number 460## 28 inch barrel. it is in good condition.

Welcome to the Winchester Owners Forum Robert !!

Shooter13 any word on a person that might be able to help me out?

OK...let me try to help...

There were only 63,871 Model 1876 rifles produced by Winchester. They were offered in four different calibers .45-75 WCF, .45-60 WCF, .40-60 WCF, and .50-95 Express. Because they are relatively rare they can command pretty hefty prices.

The Winchester Model 1876 or Centennial Model was a heavier-framed rifle than the Model 1866 or Model 1873, and was the first to be chambered for full-powered centerfire rifle cartridges, as opposed to rimfire cartridges or handgun-sized centerfire rounds. While similar in design to the 1873, the 1876 was actually based on the prototype 1868 lever-action rifle that was never commercially produced by Winchester. The next model to appear after the M1876 was the M1886...

The 1876 was introduced to celebrate the American Centennial, and earned a reputation as a durable and powerful hunting rifle. Production included 54 One of One Thousand Model 1876s and only seven of the One of One Hundred grade.

Originally chambered for the new .45-75 WCF cartridge (designed to replicate the .45-70 Gov't ballistics in a shorter case), versions in .40-60, .45-60 and .50-95 Express followed; the '76 in the latter chambering is the only repeater known to have been used in any numbers by the professional buffalo hunters.

The Canadian North-West Mounted Police used the '76 in .45-75 as a standard long arm for many years with 750 rifles purchased for the force in 1883; the Mountie-model '76 carbine was also issued to the Texas Rangers.

Theodore Roosevelt used an engraved, pistol-gripped half-magazine '76 during his early hunting expeditions in the West and praised it. A '76 was also found in the possession of Apache warrior Geronimo after his surrender in 1886.


Your serial number of 460## places it circa 1883-1884


Here's a few links to help determine value and add some historical reference:

http://www.rarewinchesters.com/index.shtml

http://homesteadfirearms.com/appraisals ... efault.htm

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/winch ... -60-w5880/

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Winche ... cat_id=509

http://antiquearmsinc.com/winchester-18 ... r-sale.htm

Hope this helps Robert...