Manufactured in 1883, this is a very desirable example of a special ordered, nickel trimmed, deluxe Winchester Model 1876 rifle. With a total production of just 63,871, the Model 1876 is already more scarce than some of Winchester's other, more prolific models. Adding into account that the '76 was primarily viewed as a heavy-hitting working and hunting gun, with many ending up in some of the world's harshest environments, many fewer have survived in any condition. Also due to this working gun reputation, these guns were generally not ordered with deluxe finishes and features, making these special ordered examples a true rarity. The included factory letter lists the rifle in .45-60 caliber with an octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, and nickel trim when received at the warehouse on 1 February 1883 and shipped the same day. Madis notes in "The Winchester Book", that only one out of every 90 of them were ordered with a plated finish of any kind, one out of every 400 ordered with special wood, one out of every 420 had a pistol grip, and one out of every 630 was ordered with checkered wood like this example. This example has the "third model" frame featuring an integral dust cover guide and dust cover with grip serrations at the rear. The nose cap, frame, dust cover, and buttplate have nickel plated finish, a configuration Winchester referred to as "nickel trim" in their ledgers. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address and King's patent marking as well as the caliber marking at the breech, which is repeated on the bottom of the nickel plated cartridge elevator. The upper tang is marked with the model marking and the serial number is marked on the lower tang, perpendicular to the long axis. The left side of the lower tang is marked "XXX 1611 R", with "P 1611" stamped in the stock inlet and "1611" on the inside toe of the buttplate. It is fitted with a Lyman beaded blade "Hunter" front sight, an "1876" marked folding ladder rear sight, and a Lyman combination tang peep sight on the upper tang. It is mounted with a very finely figured, H-pattern checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with a horn insert at the bottom of the grip and a trapdoor crescent buttplate containing a five-piece cleaning rod. Provenance: The Cam & Deb Cooper Collection