Exceedingly rare Winchester Model 1876 Saddle Ring Carbine. Nearly the entire production of the big Model 1876 Winchester was devoted to rifle manufacture. There was a considerable contract for carbines from the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police. Aside from these historic arms, Winchester made carbines for the civilian market on a very limited basis. Total production of all Model 1876s from 1876 to its discontinuance in 1888 (with about 300 additional arms made intermittently to 1898) was a mere 63,871. In comparison, Winchester produced 323,926 of the smaller Model 1873s from 1873- 1889. By the end of production of the Model 1873, 720,609 had been produced. For this obvious reason, all Model 1876 Winchesters are scarce. 1876 Saddle ring carbines are seldom encountered today as so few were made. This carbine is chambered in the big and powerful .45-75 caliber (.45 caliber bullet backed by 75 grains of black powder). Interestingly, Theodore Roosevelt owned several special order Winchester Model 1876 rifles and considered them favorites. To summarize, The 1876 Model, designed to take powerful big game cartridges mainly for western hunting, was a relatively limited production Winchester compared to other models. The Saddle Ring Carbine 1876 is scarce and seldom encountered. A carbine like this chambered in .45-75 caliber would be considered exceptionally rare. There are many advanced Winchester collectors who have never seen an 1876 Carbine. This frontier used example with serial number 32488 was manufactured in 1882. Compared to rifles in all Winchester models, carbines typically saw heavier usage. This one was obviously used, but was very well maintained internally. The receiver blue has naturally aged to a very pleasing plum patina with some good aged blue in the protected areas with fine deep blue on the loading gate. The correct 22” barrel is similarly aged mainly to gray/brown with excellent sharp Winchester markings, address and caliber stamping ahead of the receiver. The rear sight is the correct and desirable military-tangent ladder variety that is elevation marked on the side and ladder. This sight also retains the slide, which is often missing. The rear top of the barrel is caliber stamped “45-75” as is the uncleaned brass lifter on the bottom of the receiver. The upper tang is clearly and correctly stamped “MODEL 1876.” The butt stock retains the carbine butt plate. The full length forend, nearly unique to the 1876 Carbine, is fitted with the correct steel forend cap just behind the muzzle and overall shows heavy frontier saddle and handling wear. The saddle ring is intact as is the dust cover on the receiver top- these are often missing. The hammer spring is strong and the safety half-cock notch holds perfectly and securely. The lever catch is also intact and the screw heads are excellent. The butt stock is basically solid but shows some old crack repairs that one would expect from an early, big bore carbine intended for saddle scabbard carry. Amazingly, the bore is excellent, bright and sharp! Whoever originally owned this 1876 Carbine used it hard, but meticulously cared for the action and bore! As with nearly all Model 1876s, this large caliber saddle ring carbine probably saw long service on the Frontier West from the 1880s through the early years of the 20th Century. A nearly unique opportunity to bid on one of the most sought after Winchester models, in the most scarce saddle ring carbine variation and in the most desirable big caliber with exceptional bore! This original example would be a coveted addition to the most advanced Winchester or Old West collection. The carbine weighs 7lbs 14oz. Serial Number: 32488. This firearm qualifies as an antique, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.*