Winchester Lever Action Development: Model 1876

While the Model 1873 was a very popular rifle, its pistol caliber cartridge did leave a segment of the market unaddressed. Winchester wanted a rifle that could chamber the larger and more powerful cartridges popular with long range hunters, and the Model 1876 would be that rifle.
Early attempts to enlarge the 1873 action to use the .45-70 Government cartridge were unsuccessful, for two reasons. First, the cartridge in its 45-70-500 infantry configuration was simply too powerful for the toggle lock design that had been the core of all Winchester’s rifles back to the 1860 Henry. In addition, the elevator mechanism used to feed the rifle had to be sized to a specific (and fairly precise) overall cartridge length. The variety of different bullet weights used in the .45-70 did not affect use in single shot weapons, but did cause problems for Winchester’s repeater.
The solution was for Winchester to design a new round for it’s scaled-up Model 1876. This was the .45-75, and it used a relatively light bullet and a bottlenecked case similar to the general design of the .44 WCF from the Model 1873. This bottleneck improved obturation, preventing powder fouling from leaking around the cartridge case and into the working parts of the rifle. This was not strictly necessary though, as new chambering of the 1876 would be quickly added, including the .45-60; a straight-wall shortened version of the .45-70 Government round.
While it did not blow the doors off the factory like the 1873 had, the Model 1876 was a popular rifle with its intended audience, with tens of thousands of rifles sold to men including Theodore Roosevelt.
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[@millwaterpublishing1387]

Note that Winchester's modestly-powered, handy rifles ('73, '92, '94) sold circles around their heavy-hitters ('76, '86, '95)... I suppose that most shooters realized that, if you're firing a veritable cannonball, carefully aimed, from long range, the rapid-fire capability of a lever gun really didn't come into play.

[@polygondwanaland8390]

"Only" sold 64,000 rifles. Winchester worked in big numbers.

[@ringowunderlich2241]

Well, Hugo Borchardt was a Winchester employee around 1876. Though it is assumed the development of the C93 was based on the Maxim machinegun toggle lock I wonder how much influence Henry's desgin had on both Maxim and Borchardt.

[@1994bhs]

With all that customization, these rifles were the AR-15 of the old west.

[@Kman31ca]

My uncle in Alberta has one of them RCMP 1876 Winchester's in his collection. It's been in handed down through his family. I got to handle it years back. It's really cool rifle.

[@Choobus7]

Why were the original Winchester lever guns never chambered in 45 long Colt? Considering the popularity of the Colt Single Action Army revolver, it seems like a good way to share one ammo pool. Colt made a revolver in .44-40, so why didnt Winchester make a rifle in .45 Long Colt?

[@johnoneil9188]

It is always cool to hear about how even back in the day you had so much choice and options when it came to configurating a weapon you wanted and needed for your job or recreation.

[@adamh9776]

this is just a random thought I had. is there anybody out there 3d printing dummy cartridges? when Ian mentions some of the more obscure rounds I wonder what they look like to scale. extra points if the bullet is removable from the cartridge.if this is something that is available Ian you could film a bunch of videos of you handling the dummy cartridge before hand and add the appropriate one in post production.

[@vikkimcdonough6153]

Winchester 1876: The Search for More Muzzle Energy.

[@drmaudio]

I'm glad you got a '73 up there for comparison. You really can't get a feel for how big the '76 really is without the comparison.

[@neurotoksyn]

These development series of videos are great

[@vice6996]

I love the full length stock since seeing one on Tom Sellecks Crossfire Trail where he buys a custom 1876 Centennial. Awesome.

[@futuresonex]

The 1876 is one of my all time favorite rifles!

[@drewren1231]

This has been a really interesting series. Looking forward to more.

[@Paulie771]

Loving these series where you follow the development of a family of weapons. Please keep these sorts of series coming!

[@sonnygunz9207]

Winchester’s lever action rifles are the best looking rifles ever made. They’re timeless and built to last many generations. It’s hard to find a pre-64 (model 94) in good shape and at a decent price in south Texas. People down here have been using Winchesters as a part of life since they first came out.

[@Maximilian178]

The Winchester Lever Action rifles are so gorgeous rifles. Thanks Ian for your interesting and informative videos on them. I really like your content :)

[@tapadog1941]

I have one of these 1876, the stock is stamped NWMP. My father bought it in Alberta in the late 1940s for $10. Kind of fun old rifle. Firing pin was broken and a fellow milled a new one for me. I have never had any cartridges for it but my gunsmith says it is in working condition.

[@keithferguson7779]

Very cool Carbine carried by the Mounties

[@yappojilla]

holyshit! im from alberta, super cool to see something from home! nice work Ian