RARE EARLY WINCHESTER MODEL 1876 OPEN TOP LEVER ACTION RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER 73.

SN 27723. 45-75 Cal. WCF. Standard grade rifle with 28″ oct bbl, full magazine, brass bladed fixed front sight and semi bucktail ladder rear sight and 4-1/2″ mid-range Vernier tang sight. Receiver is open top style made without provision for a dust cover as first 3000 M-1876’s are. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain, American walnut, straight stock and early style crescent buttplate with trap and thick heel. Open top rifles in both models 1876 and 1873 were produced for a very short period of time. It is reported that at that time there was a weakness in cartridge cases which caused them to rupture and if the dust cover was closed, would bulge the side plates. Apparently Winchester produced these rifles without dust covers which would allow escaping gases to blow upward instead of outward. After many complaints the ammunition problem was corrected and Winchester returned to supplying rifles with dust covers. Any rifle or carbine with an open top could be returned for a factory fitted dust cover. There is no factory letter found but according to Mr. Yearout’s notes this gun was shipped July 19, 1877 and that the gun is indeed 45-75 WCF though there is no external Cal. marking. Consecutive SN 74 open top is known. 281 and 306. PROVENANCE: Darwin Buehler, Salt Lake City, UT. Lewis Yearout 1976. Estate Collection of Lewis & Leyton Yearout. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Bbl retains 30-40% thinning bright blue; magazine tube retains traces of blue in protected areas with balance plum/gray patina; receiver retains about 10% thin orig blue, mostly on the sides with the top & bottom a mottled gray/plum patina with areas of pitting; top of frame is cleaned with a streaked gray/brown patina; lever has a gray/plum patina matching frame, hammer has muted case colors on side with balance a blue/gray; buttplate is brown/gray patina; stocks are sound and solid with hand rubbed patina and numerous small scratches and minor blemishes that can be seen in photos. 2-parts of an iron cleaning rod are found in buttstock. Mechanically sound with well discerned rifling though pitted. 4-53828 JS95 (6,000-10,000) – Lot 2060

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Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2060	$15,525.00	Revised: 9/28/2014 Please note: The correct serial number is 73 as stated in the title. RARE EARLY WINCHESTER MODEL 1876 OPEN TOP LEVER ACTION RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER 73. SN 27723. 45-75 Cal. WCF. Standard grade rifle with 28″ oct bbl, full magazine, brass bladed fixed front sight and semi bucktail ladder rear sight and 4-1/2″ mid-range Vernier tang sight. Receiver is open top style made without provision for a dust cover as first 3000 M-1876’s are. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain, American walnut, straight stock and early style crescent buttplate with trap and thick heel. Open top rifles in both models 1876 and 1873 were produced for a very short period of time. It is reported that at that time there was a weakness in cartridge cases which caused them to rupture and if the dust cover was closed, would bulge the side plates. Apparently Winchester produced these rifles without dust covers which would allow escaping gases to blow upward instead of outward. After many complaints the ammunition problem was corrected and Winchester returned to supplying rifles with dust covers. Any rifle or carbine with an open top could be returned for a factory fitted dust cover. There is no factory letter found but according to Mr. Yearout’s notes this gun was shipped July 19, 1877 and that the gun is indeed 45-75 WCF though there is no external Cal. marking. Consecutive SN 74 open top is known. 281 and 306. PROVENANCE: Darwin Buehler, Salt Lake City, UT. Lewis Yearout 1976. Estate Collection of Lewis & Leyton Yearout. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Bbl retains 30-40% thinning bright blue; magazine tube retains traces of blue in protected areas with balance plum/gray patina; receiver retains about 10% thin orig blue, mostly on the sides with the top & bottom a mottled gray/plum patina with areas of pitting; top of frame is cleaned with a streaked gray/brown patina; lever has a gray/plum patina matching frame, hammer has muted case colors on side with balance a blue/gray; buttplate is brown/gray patina; stocks are sound and solid with hand rubbed patina and numerous small scratches and minor blemishes that can be seen in photos. 2-parts of an iron cleaning rod are found in buttstock. Mechanically sound with well discerned rifling though pitted. 4-53828 JS95 (6,000-10,000) – Lot 2060 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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RARE EARLY WINCHESTER MODEL 1876 OPEN TOP LEVER ACTION RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER 73.