Manufactured in 1882, this is a solid representative example of Winchester's powerful Model 1876 as upgraded by one of the frontier's legendary gun shops. The story of the Freund brothers as German immigrant gunsmiths traced its path westward, much like the expanding railways and settlers seeking opportunity, as they set up temporary shops along their route. Eventually the brothers settled permanently with shops in Denver, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. From those two shops they became known for retailing and improving mostly single shot rifles, particularly the Sharps Model 1874, making a repeater with their markings quite scarce. The Freund shop sold rifles to the likes of Philip Sheridan, George Cook, and Theodore Roosevelt. The Model 1876 found popularity on the frontier due to its larger and more powerful chamberings, most of which were capable of dispatching the most dangerous threats the American west had to offer, animal and human alike. The top flat of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address/King's patent marking, caliber marking at the breech, and "FREUND'S/PATENT/JUNE 28/1880./DURANGO/COLO" just behind the rear sight, likely indicating the shop had modified it. The caliber marking is repeated on the bottom of the cartridge elevator, model marking on the upper tang, and serial number on the lower tang. It is fitted with a Freund blade front sight, showing the Freund Patent marking on the base, and an "1876" marked folding ladder rear sight with the notch period modified to be more open, likely by the Freund shop. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate.

Good, retaining traces of the original blue finish with the balance a mixture of grey/brown patina and some scattered light pitting, typical of a rifle that spent time on the western frontier as a working gun. The lightly sanded/reoiled wood is also good with a repaired minor crack in the right of the wrist and scattered minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. A solid Winchester Model 1876 rifle that looks like it could tell stories of the frontier!