Photos of an old Winchester Model 1876

[KirkD]

It is a beautiful fall day today, the kind that calls to you to come outdoors for a while and wander around with an old levergun. I still don't have a decent camera yet, but grabbed an old, half working camera that has such a low megapixel count, I don't even want to say the number. I walked into my office and opposite me, on the wall, my old Winchester Model 1876 .45-60 was just begging to be taken out to savour the clear fall air and listen to the crunch of golden leaves underfoot. According to the records at Cody, this old rifle was checked into the Winchester warehouse on May 13, 1886 and shipped September 21, 1886. The old timer is a tack driver, putting five shots into a 1 & 3/4 inch group at 100 yards with plain base cast bullets. If it weren't for the fact that I'll be writing an article later this winter on hunting with the Winchester Model 53 and, therefore, need to use my Model 53 44 WCF for deer, I'd be taking this old '76. Be that as it may, it is on deck for hunting next year. I didn't put much time into these photos since I don't have a decent camera (so I apologize for besmirching my 'desktop artiste' title .... I keep blowing my money on guns and shooting supplies), but I figured some of you fellows might enjoy a few photos anyway, so here they are .....

[Old Savage]

Amazing - great pics!

The quality of the pics perfectly compliment the impression this great old gun gives in looking at it. You may try it on higher quality with a better camera but I wager something will be lost and something will be gained. I like these. Takes me back to country that is not here.

[Gun Smith]

It's in great condition. How long have you had it?

[kimwcook]

Thanks, Kirk. Beautiful rifle and great pics.

[KirkD]

It's in great condition. How long have you had it?

I've had it since early May of this year. Prior to that it was in a collection that a friend of mine had, and I think he got it from another fellow who had it in his collection. A few years ago I had another '76 in .45-60 and I sold it. I sure missed it. I'm glad to have finally gotten another one.

[winchester1886]

Kirk just leave it leaning against the tree and I'll pick it up, a golden oldie for sure !!! the gun not you, your only a young bloke like the rest of us on here.

[KirkD]

Kirk just leave it leaning against the tree and I'll pick it up, a golden oldie for sure !!! the gun not you, your only a young bloke like the rest of us on here.

Well, if you plan to be close enough to pick it up, you might as well just cross our back yards and come in for a coffee!

[rjohns94]

very nice as always. can almost feel the autmun and smell the freshness.

[slimster]

KirkD, you are an artist, and the camera is your brush! Bless you.

[Borregos]

Nice pictures Kirk

[brucew44guns]

Photos like that can make a guy want to do some shopping Kirk. Very nice post to share.

[okdee]

Dang! It looks like our family farm,up in Northern Missouri! Without your rifle. of course....

Beautiful country we live in!

Thanks!
Oklahoma Dee

[Chuck 100 yd]

Kirk, You got anything in a horizontal format for a desk top pic? Nice rifle! Lucky you!

[KirkD]

Photos like that can make a guy want to do some shopping Kirk. Very nice post to share.

Boys, for those of you without at least one old levergun from the 1800's, you really need to go shopping. Sell a couple modern guns if you have to, it will be worth it. It just changes everything when you go hunting with a 123-year old Winchester. You think of all the old timers, now long dead and gone, who once shot that very rifle. You think of more than a century of autumn mornings deer hunting. You think of the day when some fellow back in 1886 walked into a store somewhere, and bought that very levergun spanking new. You think of all the hunt camps back at the turn of the 1900's that the rifle has sat in late at night as the men sat around the campfire and swapped stories. You think of the horses and buggies that rifle has seen. Then you raise it to your shoulder and sight down that barrel and experience the winds of history blowing through your mind. There is just nothing like it. Sell a couple modern guns and go shopping. I do not think you will ever regret it. Just one old gun, you can keep the rest of your modern ones. Just one old levergun.

Chuck, PM me your email addy and I'll send you a hi-res one in horizontal format. It won't likely be until late tomorrow though. Come Monday morning I'm hitting the ground running. Playtime is over.

[rangerider7]

My kind of lever, just the right amount of ware. Great photos!

[Ysabel Kid]

WOW! Just when you think you've seen the best photos possible of classic leverguns, Kirk goes and out-does himself again!!!

[pokey]

[quote="KirkD"] grabbed an old, half working camera , but I figured some of you fellows might enjoy a few photos anyway, so here they are .....

how humble, how shy.

boy, i wish i could take pictures like you can.

thanks

[gamekeeper]

Great photos Kirk and yes I really must get me a real old levergun someday soon.

[Pathfinder09]

What a beauty! Great pic and looks like a glorious day.

[Buck Elliott]

Much as I love my '73, '92 & '86 -- a '76 Rifle lways looks like it's ready to do BUSINESS...

[Nath]

Those pics are fantastic Kirk, a bueatifull moment, thanks

Did you take a shot with the ole' girl? Or just savour the silence?

Nath.

[KirkD]

I didn't take a shot. It was just good enough to walk around outside with it on a beautiful fall day. I noticed the new family that just moved into the farm next to us last week was out for a walk in their field near the river, so I didn't want to cause them concern with a rifle shot.