Author Topic: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!  (Read 220932 times)

Offline dusty texian

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #200 on: October 03, 2021, 03:44:15 PM »
Welcome BillKilgore , nice rifle and even better its a family heirloom . ,,,DT

Offline BillKilgore

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #201 on: October 03, 2021, 05:18:46 PM »
It's a bit hard to tell but it appears that your rifle may have "nickel plated trimmings" as the Winchester catalog referred to it.  It looks like you are well on your way to making that old smoke wagon live again. 
Welcome to the forum!

https://centerofthewest.org/explore/firearms/firearms-records/

I was wondering about the finish because there is virtually no blue left on internal areas of the receiver that would not see wear. The springs that control the lever and the hammer are still blued. Were there certain pieces of hardware that were always colored case hardened (hammer, trigger, lever)? It is difficult to understand the the typical finish when you have only a single example and a few photos on the internet.

"Smoke Wagon"?! I have never heard that term before, but I like it. This old girl may have just picked up a nickname.



Offline BillKilgore

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #202 on: October 03, 2021, 05:29:59 PM »
That is a perfect , perfect , example of a 76 !!! you are a lucky man !!  ;D
 I really like the pics. of the ammo , can you give the " OAL " of the cartridge & ( guess ) the depth of the bullet ? And " Welcome ".

 coffee's ready ,, Hootmix.

Yes sir, Slamfire. Of the 20 original Winchester rounds, the average overall length is 2.2654". Standard deviation in length is 0.0566". Min is 2.2450 and max is 2.5050". The image below presents averages of the 20 rounds. Some cases have a small ridge about 0.4" from the case neck. I think this may be where the brass was compressed around the base of the bullet. You can barely see a faint line in the brass at the white arrow.

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #203 on: Today at 04:26:12 PM »

Offline BillKilgore

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #203 on: October 03, 2021, 05:32:27 PM »
Welcome BillKilgore , nice rifle and even better its a family heirloom . ,,,DT

Thank you. It is precious to me.

Offline BillKilgore

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #204 on: October 03, 2021, 05:38:17 PM »
I have one box of Winchester and two boxes of Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridges. I am thinking about selling one box of Rem-UMC to fund the restoration of the Smoke Wagon. Any ideas how much a box of vintage 45-60 cartridges is worth?


Offline BillKilgore

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #205 on: October 03, 2021, 05:48:56 PM »
That looks like a really good bore. Be sure to slug it. Should be a great shooter!

I need to read-up on how to slug the bore. Is this to confirm the bore diameter?

Offline Slamfire

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #206 on: October 03, 2021, 08:54:48 PM »
BillKilgore, thank you ,, that is a very fine example and nicely done, you now have the " 76 BUG " . Your pics are almost identical to way I am loading my 45-60 ( thanks to DT ),, enjoy !!!


  coffee's ready ,, Hootmix.

Offline King Medallion

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #207 on: October 03, 2021, 10:07:54 PM »
I need to read-up on how to slug the bore. Is this to confirm the bore diameter?

Yes, to confirm the bore diameter. you will likely be shooting .458/459 size bullets.
King Medallion

Offline BillKilgore

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #208 on: October 08, 2021, 05:51:18 PM »
I slugged the old girl tonight. The bore is 0.4570".

Now to check out Missouri Bullets for a suitable 300 grain projectile.

 ;D

Offline BillKilgore

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #209 on: October 10, 2021, 04:52:53 PM »
A few pics of the clean and reassembled rifle.

Offline BillKilgore

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #210 on: October 17, 2021, 05:42:21 AM »
It's a bit hard to tell but it appears that your rifle may have "nickel plated trimmings" as the Winchester catalog referred to it.  It looks like you are well on your way to making that old smoke wagon live again. 
Welcome to the forum!

https://centerofthewest.org/explore/firearms/firearms-records/

Boone, where can I find more info about "nickel plated trimmings" and other 1876 options? I have searched online and found little other than blued and CCH finish options.

Thanks

Offline Boone May

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #211 on: October 17, 2021, 09:51:38 AM »
Welcome to the forum. 
You will want to add The Winchester Book to your reference library if you don't already have it.  It has been printed many times and can be found on Amazon.  It has a chapter on the 1876 and other chapters on options and special order features.
The best single reference on the 1876 rifle is The Winchester Model 1876 "Centennial" Rifle by Herbert Houze.   It only had one printing back in 2001 and is pricey today.   I see three on Amazon now, starting at $199. 
I looked at the letter for your rifle and it doesn't list nickel plating but that doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't done at the factory.  The surviving warehouse records don't always show all features of a rifle.  That would have been on the order form which have been lost to history.
"There are a few things they didn't tell me when I hired on with this outfit."

Offline Trailrider

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #212 on: October 17, 2021, 12:52:52 PM »
A slight correction of terms: when you slug the barrel, what you are measuring on the outside diameter of the slug is the groove diameter, which is the maximum diameter of the rifling grooves, and from which you can determine what bullet diameter you choose. (Some say the bullet diameter should be groove+.001" or just groove diameter. The "best" is whatever gives the best accuracy and least leading, and can also be affected by the bullet alloy/hardness.
Ride to the sound of the guns, but watch out for bushwhackers! Godspeed to all in harm's way in the defense of Freedom! God Bless America!

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Offline LargoKC4440

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #213 on: January 05, 2022, 09:09:06 PM »
I've been working at this 76 for some time.Its is in 40/60.There is no sighn of A seriel # on it Has anyone ever come across this?
                                                                                                                                                                                Largo

Offline Slamfire

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #214 on: January 06, 2022, 09:43:00 AM »
 Hey Largo, yup y'a have. Sometimes the # can be found inside the lower tang or a 3 -digit number can be on the "original" toggle links & on the bolt.
 I would be interested in knowing the depth of your chamber to the lands.
 coffee's ready,  Hootmix.

Offline shrapnel

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #215 on: January 26, 2022, 12:09:53 PM »
Just got this 50 Express...













I never considered myself a failure...I started out at the bottom and happen to like it here!

Offline King Medallion

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #216 on: January 26, 2022, 01:21:50 PM »
Very nice, Congratulations! Sweet looking rifle!
King Medallion

Offline dusty texian

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #217 on: January 26, 2022, 04:33:18 PM »
What a beauty , and a shooter to boot .,,,DT

Offline shrapnel

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #218 on: January 26, 2022, 05:07:21 PM »
What a beauty , and a shooter to boot .,,,DT

Yes, I got it out to the range already and I could get this group at 100 yards with those sights and 68 year old eyes...

I never considered myself a failure...I started out at the bottom and happen to like it here!

Offline Boone May

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Re: Got an original Winchester 1876 - share pics!
« Reply #219 on: February 01, 2022, 10:01:20 AM »
That's a daisy, Shrapnel.  Those are Freund patent sights.  He had shops in several different cities including Cheyenne during the frontier era.  He is known for customizing Sharps rifles in addition to Winchesters. 

That sling looks like a GI issue type for a 1903 or M-1 rifle.
"There are a few things they didn't tell me when I hired on with this outfit."

 

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