This is a desirable example of a Winchester Model 1876 Express Rifle with special order features. The rifle is complete with a 1965 dated Winchester Gun Museum letter that describes it as: rifle, express caliber, 1/2 octagon barrel 24 inch, casehardened, shotgun butt, set trigger and 1/2 magazine. The letter states that this rifle was shipped from the Winchester factory on July 27, 1883. The barrel has a blue finish and the forearm cap, receiver, hammer, loading lever and smooth steel shotgun buttplate have a casehardened finish. The stock and forearm are straight grain black walnut with a varnish finish. The barrel has a dovetail mounted "Rocky Mountain" front sight with brass blade and dovetail mounted early pattern sporting rear sight with four-notch elevator. The second pattern receiver has a screw-fastened dust cover guide and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The top barrel flat 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. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "50-CAL" just ahead of the receiver. The top of the dust cover is roll-stamped with the designation: "WINCHESTER EXPRESS/.50 CAL 95 GRS." The bottom of the cartridge elevator is inscribed: "50-95". The upper receiver tang has a factory threaded hole for a tang sight and is roll-stamped: "MODEL 1876." The serial number is located on the lower receiver tang behind the lever latch.