Winchester Model 1876

by
posted on August 11, 2009
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
200981114355-lefty_f.jpg

Winchester's 1876 or Centennial Model rifle was intended from the start as a big game rifle, being chambered for centerfire cartridges ranging from the .40-65 all the way up to the powerful .50-95. First offered in 1876 and displayed at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Winchester's newest lever-action soon garnered favorable reviews from many experienced American hunters, including one who later served as president, Theodore Roosevelt.

While the standard Model 1876 lever gun loaded through a port on the right side of the receiver, this example is more than a little different. Featuring left-handed loading capability, this 26-inch rifle also has an intriguing one-piece cleaning rod affixed to the side-both custom features that are not reflected in surviving Winchester factory records. Yet this "special" .50-caliber rifle is not marked as the unique creation of any gunsmith, despite the amount of time and effort required to make such a conversion.

Loaned to the National Firearms Museum by collector C.L. Werner of Nebraska, this unusual Winchester Model 1876 represents a mystery. Was it made for a Western buffalo hunting trip to be used by the left-handed General Philip Sheridan? Or was it just a special rifle that an unknown gunsmith crafted to reflect his talent? We may never know.

Latest

springfield armory kuna
springfield armory kuna

Springfield Kuna: A PDW For The Masses

Small, yet fierce, the namesake of Springfield Armory’s latest large-format pistol is a revered forest dweller in the land of its Croatian manufacturing partner, HS Produkt. The new Kuna is poised to be just as welcome in America.

The Armed Citizen® June 30, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Book Review: Clockwork Basilisk: The Early Revolvers Of Elisha Collier & Artemas Wheeler

The result of a decade of research, Clockwork Basilisk is a comprehensive, two-volume history of the rare revolvers that preceded the development of the well-known Colt guns of the 1830s.

Preview: 1791 Gunleather Cobra Gun Belt 01

Employing the same rugged and rigid 0.25"-thick American steerhide as 1791 Gunleather’s original Gun Belt 01, the new Cobra Gun Belt 01 offers enhanced ease of use by taking advantage of a high-strength Cobra quick-latch/release buckle.

NRA CEO Hamlin and President Bachenberg Hold First Virtual Townhall

In the interests of transparency, NRA CEO and EVP Doug Hamlin and NRA President Bill Bachenberg held a live Townhall event, where both answered direct questions from NRA members.

Benelli Adds New 28-Gauge Models to Super Black Eagle 3 Line

Benelli initially introduced the 28-ga. chambering to its Super Black Eagle 3 line in 2022, but this year, the company added three new models tailored specifically to hunters.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.