This is an excellent example of a Winchester Model 1876 rifle that was manufactured in 1881. This rifle has the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The rifle has a full-octagon 28-inch barrel with full-length magazine. The barrel has the standard sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and folding leaf rear sight marked "1876" below the elevation bar stop screw. The upper receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped for a rear sight and the crescent steel buttplate has a sliding brass trap door. The rifle has a blued barrel, magazine, forearm cap, receiver, dust cover and buttplate. The hammer, lever and trigger are color casehardened. The loading gate has a fire blue finish. The stock and forearm are oil-finished, straight grain. American walnut. The top of the barrel is roll stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." ahead of the rear sight. "CAL 45-60" is roll stamped on the top barrel flat immediately ahead of the receiver. "45-60" is roll stamped in script numerals across the bottom of the brass cartridge elevator. The upper receiver tang is roll stamped "MODEL. 1876" in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The serial number,"31317" is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the lever latch and the lower tang screw.