WINCHESTER

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This page describes Historical Arms that were recently sold at auction by registered auction houses.
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Intro

Benjamin Henry was a gunsmith in the New Haven Arms Company led by Oliver Winchester. The Henry .44 manual repeating rifle, patented in 1860, is the predecessor of the famous rifle that will take the name of his boss.

Henry's patent significantly improved the performance of the previous model, the Volcanic. The Henry rifle had a significant rhythm of firing, with 15 shots per round. Its easy loading enabled a well-trained shooter to perform 100 firings in five minutes.

Despite its accuracy, this engineering marvel was not officially accepted by the army. They indeed selected the Spencer rifle designed in the same year. The Henry was indeed not perfect, with a risk of accidental fire and overheating, but especially the army preferred a slower repetition to avoid a costly waste of ammunition.

So during the Civil War the Henry rifle remained an elite firearm that the best soldiers were buying at their own expense and enjoyed to have with them in the most difficult actions.

These guns usually had a brass frame. The New Haven Arms Company also produced a variation with an iron frame despite the risk of rust.

A specimen of the iron framed Henry, with a serial number within the first fifty, remained in a stunning condition, having retained almost all of the blue finish of the metal and the coating of the walnut stock. It was sold for $ 600K on September 15, 2013 by RIAC, lot 3100.

In 1866 Oliver Winchester upgraded the Henry rifle and acquired totally the New Haven Arms Company which became the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Unhappy with his salary, Henry did not follow.

The Winchester rifle models are commercially designated by the year of their first release. They do not come in succession one another but in parallel and so increase the catalog. Thus the 1866 and 1873 Models made famous by the Indian wars are produced by the factory until 1899 and 1923.

Model 1866 Rifle

1868 Model 1866 Solid Silver
2021 SOLD for $ 980K by RIAC

There is a one of the kind solid silver Winchester rifle, displaying solid silver bands on the barrel and relief engraved cast solid silver frame, carrier block, butt plate and end cap.

This piece is a Model 1866 rifle with inscribed references to the 1860 Henry and 1866 King patents. It is seven times signed by the master engraver L. D. Nimschke and is entered in his book of drawings with the date 1868 and the note Peru. Nimschke was established in New York since 1853 with a specialty for engraving firearms for emperors and presidents.

Inscribed Balta-Melgarejo on the case lid, it had been made on a special order from the President Jose Balta of Peru for presentation to his neighbor the President of Bolivia. A highly corrupted hedonist and heavy drinker, Melgarejo may be considered as the worst Bolivian president. Newly raised as Peruvian president after a series of coups, Balta was certainly looking for allies. Both countries were major producers of silver.

The solid silver Winchester was sold for $ 980K from a lower estimate of $ 400K by RIAC on December 3, 2021, lot 18. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.

Model 1873 Rifle

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​1876 Model 1873 for the Centennial
​2021 SOLD for $ 720K by RIAC

From May 10 to November 10, 1876, the Philadelphia Centennial International Exhibition is a huge event that closes the reconstruction phase of the USA eleven years after the end of the Civil War. Both Colt and Winchester made major efforts in the preparation of their showcases.

It is known that Winchester displayed nearly two hundred guns representing about fifty different styles. It was also an opportunity to unveil their Model 1876 rifle and a revolver intended to compete with Colt on this specific market. Both brands competed also for lavishly decorated guns, for which the master engraver at Winchester was John Ulrich. Some of them were later presented to foreign heads of state for marketing purpose.

The identification of the Winchester Exhibition guns had not been recorded but some details are flagrant. For example a Model 1873 One of One Thousand is both inscribed CENTENNIAL and 1876 and it has been factory refurbished as many Winchester display guns were. This rifle which retains 98% of the high polish blue finish was sold on September 12, 2010 for $ 290K by RIAC, lot 3111 here linked on the bidding platform iCollector.

Two consecutive shipping orders from the factory in May 1878 are undoubtedly recording the shipment of pieces exhibited at the Centennial, although the 1876 exhibition is not referred therein and the new destination remains unknown, possibly the Paris Exposition Universelle of that year.

These orders go to confirm that a highly rare Model 1873 rifle gold inlaid in the full game scenes and signed by John Ulrich had been specially made for the Centennial. This piece has been marked in 1881 for a presentation to Marco A. Soto, the President of Honduras. Soto fled in 1883 for France where it surfaced thirteen decades later in poor storage conditions.

The restored rifle is rated exceptionally fine with 50% original blue finish on the barrel, more than 90 % original gold and its crisp relief engraving. It was sold for $ 720K by RIAC on May 14, 2021, lot 10. Please watch the video shared by the auction house to narrate Winchester at the time of the Centennial.

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1877 Model 1873 1 of 100
2018 SOLD for $ 800K by RIAC, possibly unpaid
2022 SOLD for $ 760K by RIAC

The model 1873 of Winchester rifle is nicknamed "the gun that won the West" in an assimilation with the "Colt that won the West" from the same decade.

In 1875 Winchester announced two sorted series of the model 1873. 136 rifles were granted the label One of One Thousand and 8 were One of One Hundred.

​The 1 of 1000 was a guarantee by the factory that 10 shots had been fired by a tester. The 1 of 100 was cheaper with an intermediate guarantee of accuracy between the base model and the 1 of 1000 and at the end if the day it was much rarer than the 1 of 1000.

The eight 1 of 100 were released between 1876 and 1878. The rifle inscribed as the last of them was received in the Winchester warehouse in August 1877 and shipped in April 1878. It was probably carried in 1878 by its first owner in the ill fated Collins exploratory expedition to the Amazon and Madeira Rivers of South America.

This 1 of 100 in fine condition was sold by RIAC on November 30, 2018 for $ 800K from a lower estimate of $ 275K, lot 35. Please watch the video shared by the auction house. Itwas sold for $ 760K from a lower estimate of $ 500K by the same auction house on May 13, 2022, lot 17. In the 2022 pre sale video this 1 of 100 is shared with a 1 of 1000 from the same model.

Considering that the cataloguing and provenance are unchanged and that the new estimate is in the mid range between the original estimate and the price at the former auction, we may suppose that this lot had been unpaid in 2018.

3
1897 DeLuxe Factory Display
​2021 SOLD for $ 720K by RIAC

A Model 1873 rifle, originally assembled as a carbine, was factory embellished in two tone gold for display by Winchester in 1897. The engraving with game scenes was probably made by John Ulrich. It was used as a deluxe factory display and in major exhibitions such as the Buffalo Pan-American in 1901.

After these tours the brand used it in 1902 for presentation. The selected recipient of this honor was 'Captain Jack' Crawford. This in period iconic figure of the Wild West was a veteran of the Sioux wars and a stage performer, a storyteller, a poet and a lecturer. In 1903 Captain Jack offered the rifle as a Christmas gift to his editor Jim Adams.

This deluxe presentation rifle retaining its factory exhibition finish was sold for $ 720K from a lower estimate of $ 190K by RIAC on September 12, 2021, lot 3023. Please watch the video shared by the auction house, narrating various feats of the Poet Scout.

Model 1876 Rifle

1876 was prestigious for the Americans as the Centennial year of Independence. The Model 1876 of Winchester is nicknamed the Centennial rifle.

Based on the same patents as previous models, the Model 1876 launched during the Centennial celebrations is a shotgun including a DeLuxe option with hardened metal and a One Of One Thousand sorting. 54 units of the 1876 were granted the One of One Thousand label. As for the 1873 the label One of One Hundred is much rarer.

Winchester Model 1876 Production History and the “One of One Thousand” Variant
The Winchester Model 1876, popularly known as the “Centennial Rifle,” was Winchester’s first truly successful big-bore lever-action repeater. Developed as a scaled-up version of the Model 1873, it addressed the growing demand from big-game hunters and frontiersmen for a rifle capable of handling powerful cartridges beyond the limitations of the smaller 1873 toggle-link action. Prototypes were displayed at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, but actual production commenced in June 1877, with the first rifles shipped on June 8 of that year.
Overall Production
Winchester manufactured a total of 63,871 Model 1876 rifles, carbines, and muskets between 1877 and approximately 1897 (with some final assembly extending into 1898). Serial numbers run sequentially from 1 through roughly 63,871. This output was modest compared to the far more numerous Model 1873 (approximately 720,000 units), making the 1876 the scarcest of Winchester’s pre-1900 lever-action family.
The 1876 was offered in three main configurations:
  • Sporting Rifle — the most common, typically with 26–28" octagonal or round barrels and full-length magazines.
  • Carbine — over 9,000 produced, with 22" barrels, half magazines, and saddle rings for mounted use.
  • Musket — only about 617–700 made, featuring 32" barrels with military-style barrel bands.
Four calibers were cataloged:
  • .45-75 W.C.F. (introduced 1877, the original “Centennial” cartridge)
  • .45-60 W.C.F. (1879)
  • .50-95 Express (1879)
  • .40-60 W.C.F. (1884)
The model was discontinued in 1898, largely superseded by John Browning’s stronger Model 1886, which better handled full-length .45-70 Government loads.
Model Variants
The 1876 evolved through three distinct models, identified primarily by dust-cover and receiver features (with some serial-range overlap due to warehouse practices):
  • First Model (~serial 1 to ~3,000, 1877–early 1878): No dust cover or open-top receiver traits; lever latch threaded into the lower tang. Early examples like serial #457 belong here.
  • Second Model (~serial ~3,000 to ~30,000, 1878–mid 1880s): Dust cover mounted on a central guide secured by two screws (early “thumbprint” style, later serrated finger grip). Serial #9768 falls in this range.
  • Third Model (~serial ~30,000 to end): Dust cover riding on integral rails machined into the receiver; the most refined and most numerous variant.
The “One of One Thousand” Elite Grade
Within this limited production, Winchester created an ultra-premium tier known as the Model 1876 “One of One Thousand” (OOT). These rifles were not part of a broad advertising campaign but rather a factory practice of selecting barrels that demonstrated superior accuracy during proof testing—those capable of grouping 10 shots into exceptionally tight patterns earned the designation.
Key characteristics of the OOT variant include:
  • Barrel marking: “One of One Thousand” (or close variant) stamped or engraved on the top flat, usually ahead of the rear sight, often accompanied by hand-engraved caliber notation.
  • Set trigger (single or double set) for enhanced precision.
  • Higher-grade fancy walnut stocks, frequently checkered and finished to a high piano luster.
  • Premium finishes: color casehardening on the receiver, lever, hammer, and buttplate; charcoal blue on the barrel and magazine tube; occasional niter blue accents, silver or gold bands, and factory engraving.
  • Special-order options such as extra-length or heavy barrels, pistol-grip stocks, or elaborate inscriptions.
Production of the OOT grade was extremely limited: only approximately 53–55 were made (most references cite 54), primarily between 1877 and 1880. An even rarer “One of One Hundred” sub-grade accounted for roughly 7–8 examples with additional deluxe embellishments. Survival is minimal; older references from the 1970s documented only about 10 known specimens, though more have surfaced in recent decades. Because of the tiny population and risk of misidentification or fakery, a Cody Firearms Museum letter (drawn from original Winchester ledgers covering serials 1–63,871) is considered essential for authentication and full configuration details.
Notable Documented Examples
Two rifles discussed here illustrate the range within the OOT group:
  • Serial #457 (First Model): One of the earliest ledgered OOT rifles, shipped in 1877 with a contemporary inscription to H.C. Gove of Albany, NY. It features elaborate factory engravings and represents the initial rollout of the premium grade during the very first months of 1876 production.
  • Serial #9768 (Second Model, deluxe): A documented example with highly figured checkered walnut, set trigger, extensive color casehardening, charcoal blue barrel, and other factory deluxe appointments. This rifle realized $891,250 at Rock Island Auction in 2018, reflecting the strong market for well-preserved, Cody-documented specimens.
Other known low-to-mid serial OOTs include examples in the 155–709 range and later consecutive groups such as 10,015–10,018. The absolute earliest OOTs (sometimes described as “the very first” in collector lore) typically fall in the low hundreds and were among the first to receive the special barrel selection and marking in mid-to-late 1877.
Historical Use and Collector Significance
The Model 1876 saw use by big-game hunters (including Theodore Roosevelt), lawmen, outlaws, the Canadian North-West Mounted Police, and Texas Rangers. The OOT variants, however, were primarily acquired by affluent sportsmen who valued repeatable long-range accuracy with powerful cartridges.
Today, the 1876 “One of One Thousand” stands as one of the most coveted American firearms. Documented, original examples in strong condition routinely command six- and seven-figure prices at auction. Factors driving value include:
  • Original finish and wood condition
  • Presence and clarity of the “One of One Thousand” barrel marking
  • Early/low serial position and First Model features
  • Special provenance (inscriptions, factory engraving, gold/silver trim)
  • Cody Firearms Museum documentation
Compared to the more famous Model 1873 “One of One Thousand” (approximately 136 produced and popularized by the 1950 film Winchester ’73), the 1876 OOT is significantly scarcer by production numbers and often viewed by advanced collectors as equally or more prestigious due to the model’s overall rarity and its role as Winchester’s premier pre-Browning big-bore lever action.
​In summary, the Winchester Model 1876 represents a brief but important chapter in lever-action evolution—bridging the toggle-link era to more modern designs—while the “One of One Thousand” variant embodies the pinnacle of 1870s Winchester craftsmanship: extreme rarity, superior accuracy selection, and exquisite factory presentation. Whether examining an early inscribed First Model like serial #457 or a deluxe mid-production Second Model like serial #9768, these rifles remain centerpieces for serious collectors of American frontier firearms.

1877 1 of 1000, First Model, Serial Number 457
2026 SOLD for $ 790K by RIAC

A very early Winchester One of One Thousand Model 1876 rifle was sold for $ 790K against a lower estimate of $ 200K by RIAC on May 8, 2026, lot 11. ​

The very first of the 54 rifles Model 1876 that had the 1 of 1000 label was sold for $ 495K by RIAC on September 6-8, 2008 (serial number not retrieved by the AI).

Here is a detailed side-by-side comparison of the two Winchester Model 1876 "One of One Thousand" rifles based on their Rock Island Auction listings and supporting historical context:
​Serial Number and Production Context
  • Serial #457 (RIA lot from the link above): This is a very early example. It ranks among the first few documented "One of One Thousand" Model 1876 rifles in factory ledgers (preceded only by serials like 155, 396, and 455). Production of these elite variants began in the late 1870s, with only about 54–55 total ever made across the entire run (roughly 1877–1880). Early low serial numbers like this place it firmly in the First Model configuration range (generally under ~3,000–5,000 for the 1876 series).
  • Serial #9768 (RIA "Ultra-Rare Documented Winchester 'One of One Thousand' Deluxe"): This is a significantly later example within the small 1-of-1000 production. It falls into the Second Model era for the 1876 (roughly after the initial ~3,000 serials, featuring dust cover improvements). A Cody Firearms Museum letter confirms its "One of One Thousand" status.
Both are part of the ultra-rare group (far fewer survive today—historically only about 10 known to collectors in older references), making direct comparisons meaningful for understanding variations in this elite tier.
Configuration and Features
  • Barrel and Caliber:
    • #457: Octagonal barrel (typical for many early deluxe/1-of-1000 examples). The original X post and listing highlight elaborate factory engravings and period markings. Caliber not explicitly detailed in summaries but consistent with common 1876 chamberings (.45-75, .45-60, etc.).
    • #9768: 26-inch octagon barrel, chambered in .45-60. Caliber is hand-engraved on the top barrel flat ("CAL. 45-60"), with "45-60" also roll-stamped in script on the brass cartridge elevator.
  • Finishes and Special Order Elements:
    • #457: Features inscription (to H.C. Gove of Albany, NY, dated 1877), elaborate factory engravings, and superior 19th-century craftsmanship. This personalization adds strong provenance and historical character. It emphasizes the "One of One Thousand" elite selection (barrels that grouped exceptionally tight in testing, with set triggers and premium finishes).
    • #9768: Deluxe configuration with highly figured fancy-grain walnut stock and forearm (early-style checkering, piano finish), set trigger, casehardened receiver/hammer/lever/buttplate, charcoal blue on barrel/magazine/trigger, and niter blue on loading gate/dust cover. Crescent buttplate with sliding brass trapdoor. Upper tang drilled/tapped (factory). This is explicitly called a "deluxe" example with exceptional originality.
  • Model-Specific Details:
    • Early First Model traits are more likely on #457 (potentially open-top or early dust cover variations, lever latch details).
    • #9768 includes a dust cover and other mid-production refinements, plus "MODEL 1876" in fancy letters on the upper tang.
Both share the core "One of One Thousand" hallmarks: specially selected/tested barrels for superior accuracy, set triggers, and premium presentation.
Condition, Provenance, and Rarity Notes
  • #457: Inscribed with direct 1877 provenance, highlighting its early shipment and personal history. The elaborate engravings and inscription make it visually striking and historically tied to a specific owner. As one of the earliest ledgered 1-of-1000s, it represents the initial rollout of this premium grade.
  • #9768: Totally original, documented via Cody letter, and described as exceptional in preservation. Its deluxe features (checkered fancy wood, specific finishes) elevate it as a benchmark "Centennial Rifle" example. Auction descriptions note that 1876 1-of-1000s are rarer and often as (or more) desirable to advanced collectors than their more famous 1873 counterparts.
Auction and Market Context
Both appeared at Rock Island Auction, underscoring their elite status. The #9768 "Deluxe" example sold for $891,250 in a 2018 auction—a record-level price reflecting its documentation, condition, and deluxe attributes. Prices for these can vary widely based on condition, provenance, and specific features, but both command six- or seven-figure interest due to the extreme rarity (only ~54 made total).
​Key Differences Summary
  • Timing/Era: #457 is among the earliest (1877 inscription, low serial, First Model traits) vs. #9768 (later production, Second Model refinements).
  • Personalization vs. Deluxe Factory Specs: #457 stands out for its custom inscription and elaborate engravings (tied to a named owner). #9768 excels in factory deluxe appointments (fancy checkered wood, specific color casehardening/blueing, set trigger emphasis).
  • Visual/Historical Appeal: The inscribed early rifle offers a more "personal history" narrative with visible 1877 details. The deluxe later one presents as a pristine, high-option showcase of Winchester's premium craftsmanship.
  • Similarities: Both are octagon-barreled, set-trigger-equipped 1-of-1000 rarities with superior barrels and finishes—pinnacle examples of 1870s lever-action artistry. Survival rates are tiny for the whole group.
In collector terms, the early inscribed #457 might appeal more for historical provenance and engraving, while the documented deluxe #9768 might edge out for overall factory originality and "show" condition. Either would be a centerpiece in a serious Winchester collection.

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​1877 Model 1876 1 of 100, First Model
2021 SOLD for $ 690K by RIAC

Released at the Centennial, the Model 1876 is a transition between the 1873 and the 1886, with overlapping production time ranges.

Winchester offered simultaneously the same 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 sorts for the 1873 and for the 1876. The 1876 One of One Hundred is a great rarity with only 8 recorded.

The first 1876 1 of 100 was shipped in 1877 to its first owner, a 21 year old man who had visited the Centennial. I guess that the 1 of 100 was less expensive than the 1 of 1000.

This rifle remained until 1987 in the family of its original owner. It is in good condition with some traces of the original blue finish. It was sold for $ 690K from a lower estimate of $ 250K by RIAC on September 10, 2021, lot 24. Please watch the video shared by the auction house. It was sold for $ 615K by Heritage on June 19, 2023, lot 40110.

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1879 Model 1876 1 of 1000 Serial Number 9768
2018 SOLD for $ 890K by RIAC

A rifle Model 1876 One of One Thousand in exceptionally fine condition was sold by RIAC on September 8, 2018 for $ 890K from a lower estimate of $ 350K, lot 1009. It had been shipped from the factory in 1879. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.

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​1885 Model 1876 DeLuxe, Serial 42491
​2018 SOLD for $ 750K by RIAC

The Model 1876 was produced until 1897 and included four barrel length options and four possible gauges. These rifles are often decorated with hunting scenes by one or another of the three Ulrich brothers.

One of them in a time capsule condition having preserved 98% of its blue is the finest example of its type. It was sold for $ 750K from a lower estimate of $ 450K by RIAC on April 14, 2018, lot 1017.

This DeLuxe 40-60 WCF 28 inches supplied from factory in 1885 was decorated by John Ulrich with a powerful portrait of a grizzly bear on one side and a whitetail buck head on the other side. The video shared by the auction house illustrates its perfect condition.

Model 1886 Rifle

1
1886
​2016 SOLD for $ 1.27M by RIAC

Apache wars are a long series of horrific violence in Mexico and southern United States. The murders of Native American Indians and of their families provoke a retaliation against the settlers. The small band led by Geronimo is terrible but it is isolated by the acceptance of a growing number of Apaches to live in the Indian reservations.

The government can not wait. General Miles issues the order to capture or kill. Exhausted, Geronimo agrees to negotiate. On 4 September 1886 he is offering his surrender to Captain Lawton.

Lawton is an impeccable officer with a deserved reputation for gallantry. On April 30, 2016, RIAC sold as lot 1025 for $ 1.27M from a lower estimate of $ 500K a rifle and a watch offered to the hero for honoring his feat.

The rifle is the serial number 1 of the Model 1886 by Winchester. It was presented to Lawton and so inscribed by Lieutenant Albee who was a collaborator of Winchester Repeating Arms since his retirement from the army. It is in excellent condition.

The gold plated pocket watch by Howard was offered to Lawton by the New Mexican cattlemen relieved by the end of slaughters and cattle raids. Further north the Sioux continue the American Indian uprising until 1890.

Please watch the video shared by the auction house:

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1904
2018 SOLD for $ 1.18M by RIAC

On September 7, 2018, RIAC sold a Winchester rifle Model 1886 for $ 1.18M from a lower estimate of $ 500K, lot 7. This piece is considered as the finest factory engraved Winchester Model 1886 Express Rifle in existence. Please watch the video shared by the auction house, also displaying a Winchester rifle model 1873.

This gold and platinum inlaid piece has been engraved and signed by the master engraver John Ulrich in Grade No. 1. The highly detailed gold inlaid scenes feature various animals in a surrounding of arabesques. It had been received in the warehouse in 1904.

​Another Model 1886 rifle with a very similar description, also engraved in the same grade and signed by John Ulrich, and also shipped in 1904, was sold by RIAC on December 1, 2018 for $ 590K, lot 2005. It is in excellent condition. Some specialists guess that it had been showcased at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, held inSt. Louis, in 1904, where Winchester had an exhibit in the Palace of Manufactures.