This is an exceedingly rare early Winchester 1876 2nd. Model octagon rifle in desirable .45-60 caliber with rarely seen special order casehardened/case colored receiver and Winchester Factory Letter. This rifle comes with a Winchester Repeating Arms Company factory letter issued by the Cody Firearms Museum which houses the original Winchester manufacturing and shipping records. This rifle with serial number 23237 is documented by the museum as being: rifle, .45-60 caliber, octagon barrel, plain trigger, Casehardened, received in the warehouse on April 19, 1882 and shipped from the warehouse with one other arm on April 20, 1882. The second model is easily identifiable by the dust cover rail on top of the receiver being connected to the receiver by two screws. Later rifles have this rail made integral with the receiver. The second model is eagerly sought by collectors as it was an early limited production run from approximately 1877 to 1882. After serial numbers passed approx. 25000 the third models began. Survival rates for these early frontier used Winchesters is very small compared to later versions which were made in larger numbers and saw years less usage. The standard finish on these big 28” octagon rifles was full blue on the barrel, magazine and receiver. Any deviation from this is considered very scarce. Casehardened receivers were rarely special ordered and examples today are seldom encountered. This is especially true for early 2nd Model 1876s. This nearly 140 year old example is in particularly fine condition inside and out. Case colors fade from receivers very rapidly with handling and even sunlight diminishing the colors. The receiver on #23237 retains good case colors around the rear of the side plate on the right side, light faded case color overall on the left side plate and behind the side plate on the frame, under the lever and in other small protected areas of the receiver. The loading gate also retains fine original nitre blue finish. The brass lifter on the bottom of the receiver has not been polished or buffed and retains a lovely mustard patina. It is clearly factory engraved “45-60.” The upper tang retains the deep stamping “MODEL 1876.” The barrel retains a soft lightly thinning blue with excellent markings consisting of caliber designation along with the standard Winchester address and patent dates. The barrel is also fitted with the rare and desirable sporting ladder rear sight with slide intact. The front sight is a Rocky Mountain blade. The magazine tube displays fine deep blue. As was the custom with Winchester, when a special order rifle was processed, a finer piece of walnut was often selected. This special order rifle with caseharden receiver was fitted with a butt stock displaying a nice “fiddleback” striped grain pattern. The butt stock appears to have been reinforced at the wrist with a small through and through dowel repair that was expertly done and is barely noticeable. The stock fits the receiver with no looseness or movement and is minor in all respects. The forend is excellent and the butt stock is fitted with the correct heavy crescent butt plate with brass sliding trap door for cleaning rods. The action works perfectly with only the lever spring somewhat loose. The lever catch is intact and the half cock notch on the hammer is strong. The bore is surprisingly fine with strong rifling and any roughness fairly minor. The Model 1876 was Winchester’s first truly big bore repeating rifle. Essentially, it was a limited production rifle produced as a much larger version of their popular and heavily produced smaller Model 1873 which was chambered for the “revolver length” cartridges .44-40, .38-40 and .32-20. The Model 1876 was designed for big game hunting primarily in the western part of the country where game much larger than eastern deer and black bear were commonly found. It is interesting to note that Theodore Roosevelt was a big fan of the Model 1876 and used several throughout the West that he had special ordered from Winchester. The Model 1876 was a serious specialized rifle that was made in limited quantities. This rifle with 28” barrel is chambered in the powerful and popular caliber .45-60. This cartridge held a .45 caliber lead bullet weighing 300 grains in front of a full charge of 60 grains of black powder. This was a very potent cartridge that was used successfully on elk, grizzly bears and even buffalo, which were hunted in Montana as late as 1883. Most surviving 1876 rifles show very heavy frontier use and often abuse making this fine special ordered example a rarity because of its fine condition as well as special ordered casehardened receiver. Very few Winchester or Old West collections contain a 2nd. Model 1876 .45 caliber octagon rifle with fancier than standard wood and case colored receiver. This is an Antique Firearm and does NOT require an FFL.