The included factory letter lists this rifle with an octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered stock, casehardened finish, and "Forest & Stream Express" and indicates it was received in the warehouse on April 21, 1879, and shipped the same day to Forest & Stream in order number 14932. "Brentano's Aquatic Monthly and Sporting Gazetteer" in 1879 reported on "The 'Forest & Stream' Short-Range Rifle Tournament" and indicated that the second annual tournament was held at Conlin's Gallery in New York on March 10th-March 14th and that there were several ten men teams in the tournament, including two teams from the New York Rifle Club. "The prizes were ten gold monogram badges, presented by Forest & Stream and Rod and Gun; an American Express rifle, the first one ever manufactured in this country, presented by the Winchester Arms Company; a Ballard sporting rifle, presented by Schoverling & Daly; a Galway rifle, presented by the Remingtons; two badges, presented by N. M. Shepard, and a prize, as yet undetermined, from the Union Metallic Cartridge Company." The Zettler team took first place for the second year in a row with 478 out of 500 while one of the New York Rifle Club's teams came in second with 468. Forest & Steam's May 1, 1879, issue reported: "The New York Rifle Club held an opening 'field' day at Creedmoor yesterday...In the evening, the supper was eaten at the Grant Hotel, and Captain L. V. Sone was given a surprise, in the presentation to him of the Winchester Express rifle, won by the club in the recent F. & S. Tournament." Only one earlier serial number Model 1876 Express rifle was found in our sales records, sn. 7746, but that rifle was not shipped until May 13, 1879. The next lowest example we have sold was sn. 8732 shipped on June 3, 1879. Winchester no doubt had high hopes for these powerful rifles, but they did not catch on, and only a small number were made. The total production of the Model 1876 was also rather limited with only 63,871 manufactured. This limited production leaves very few Centennial Model Express Rifles for collectors today, and this early example is certainly particularly desirable. The rifle has a dovetailed German silver blade front sight, adjustable sporting rear sight, the two-line address and King's improvement patent marking on top, ".50 CAL EXPRESS" is factory hand engraved on the top barrel flat at the breech, "WINCHESTER EXPRESS/.50 Cal. 95 Grs." is also factory inscribed on the thumb print dust cover, screw affixed guide rail, blank cartridge elevator, plain trigger, "MODEL. 1876." on the upper tang, the script serial number "8097" on the lower tang, checkered deluxe walnut forearm and buttstock with a steel forend end cap and crescent buttplate with a brass trapdoor (cleaning rod absent). The left side plate is inscribed in alternating scripts with "Prize won in the/FOREST & STREAM TOURNAMENT 1879/And presented to/L. V. SONE. by the N. Y. RIFLE CLUB/In appreciation of his services as Captain." Louis V. Sone was a leading member in the New York Rifle Club in the late 1870s and in the 1880s. The New York Times on May 2, 1876, announced his victory in the rifle tournament held in aid of St. John's Guild and on December 1, 1878, reported that at the annual election of the New York Rifle Club he was elected president and intended to present 10 gold badges to the club for presentation to members of their team. On March 17, 1879, and October 25, 1879, he is listed as achieving records in rifle-shooting in galleries, including 99 out of 100 at 12 yards. Forest & Stream reported that at "The Everybody's Match" at Conlin's Shooting Gallery ending on November 20th, 1879, Sone won first place and notes that he had "a record of forty-three consecutive bull's eyes at a 'Creedmoor target' reduced for gallery practice, and there is no better 'holder' in the country than he..." Outside of his marksmanship accolades, Sone was a successful inventor and businessman. He formed the petroleum company Sone & Fleming Mfg. Co. Ltd. with Francis C. Fleming. He was a pioneer in kerosene production, including patenting designs for transportation. Sone & Fleming's "astral oil" is said to have pushed whale oil off the market. The company's refinery was purchased by Standard Oil in 1879. Sone was also presented an L. D. Nimschke engraved Smith & Wesson .32 Double Action Revolver by the New York Rifle Club when he visited Europe in 1884. See Lot 323 in our November 2018 Premier catalog as well as p. 192 of both "Steel Canvas" and "The History and Art of the American Gun: The Art of American Arms" by R. L. Wilson. The records for the arrival of the steamer "City of Paris" in 1891 list Sone as a 45 year old merchant. Also on board was his 19 year old son L. V. Sone Jr. He lived various locations in New York over the years, including at his Ridgelawn estate in White Plains and a summer cottage at Sone Park, and he died at the age of 61 in 1907 at his home at No. 43 West 68th Street in New York City. Provenance: Louis V. Sone; Private Collection

Fine overall with crisp totally original inscriptions and markings, 60% of the attractively aged original case colors, particularly vibrant original case colors on the protected areas at the rear of the frame, 40% original blue finish visible on the original dust cover, strong traces of original blue finish remaining elsewhere among the even brown patina minor oxidation/pitting, and generally minor wear. The wood is also fine and has some attractive figure, crisp checkering, and minor marks and scratches. Mechanically excellent. Overall, a fascinating Winchester Deluxe Model 1876 Express lever action rifle lettered as a "Forest & Stream Express" and presented to a noted New York marksman and businessmen. It was even identified in the period as the first of its kind, what a monumental discovery and opportunity!