Two Winchester 1876s, and a Marlin 1881

[Oregon Bill]

I have had this print from a glass plate negative in the collections of the Southern Oregon Historical Society for 30 or more years, and always wonder how the lives of these three unknown young men turned out. The studio in which the photo was taken is unknown, as is the date, but if that is a Model 1881 Marlin in the hands of the chap on the left, then it would be 1881 or later. Pretty sure the other two rifles are Winchester Model 1876s. If in fact this image was made somewhere in Southern Oregon or Northern California, grizzly bears were still a serious menace to miners and stockmen at that time. The extra punch from one of the Winchester cartridges for the 76 -- or for that Marlin -- would have been very useful.
I also wonder how long they stayed in pose for their dogs to fall asleep. Or would they have slipped those pups a few drops of laudanum on their dog biscuits? 



(Posted this over at Paco's place, too.)

[Baltimore Ed]

Nice image. I always wonder about the lives of people in interesting old photos. Ghosts.

[Slamfire]

 Cool old pictures. My grandkids say the same thing" is that really you back then"? Well, i wasn't born this old (ha-ha-ha ).

  coffee time,  Hootmix.

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[King Medallion]

neat pic, I have to think the one in the middle is a 73 though.

[Oregon Bill]

King, I went back and forth between 73 and 76 being held by the guy in the middle.

[Little Dalton]

Oregon, the rear of the receiver is a dead giveaway. On a '76, the transition to the wood of the buttstock happens midway under the hammer, and about in line with the trigger (rifle on the right). On a '73, the same transition runs a line from fully at the rear of the hammer hump to far behind the trigger (center rifle). Wonderful photo, thanks for sharing!

[U.S.M.R.]

When I first looked at the picture I thought the one in the middle was a carbine. Looking closer it appears to be a short rifle.

[Oregon Bill]

Excellent point, Dalton. I will remember it in future.

[Buckaroo Lou]

I believe both the rifle on the right and the middle are the same year model rifles as the receivers are the same length. If one was a '73 and the other a '76 I think the receiver lengths would be more distinguishable.

[Black River Smith]

I agree with Dalton on the center is an 1873 and the right one in an 1876.  But I will use a different design feature.  Increase the picture to about 400X in the original posting.  Do not click on it as a separate photo view.

The rifle in the center has a side plate that ends even with the trigger and has two distinctive screws.  This defines it as an 1873.
The rifle at the right has a side plate the reaches almost all the way to the end of the receiver and has only one screw visible.  This defines it as an 1876.