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William Ennis' Personal Deluxe Winchester 1876 Express

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
William Ennis' Personal Deluxe Winchester 1876 Express
Belonging to famous 19th Century pioneer and business man, William Ennis, who was the founder of the town of Ennis, Montana. A rare second model, manufactured in 1882, with a dust cover guide rail attached to the receiver with two screws, chambered in the 50-95 Winchester Express, and documented with about every factory special order feature you could ask for. The accompanying factory letter lists this rifle with an octagon barrel, matted top barrel flat, casehardened receiver, checkered pistol grip stock, hard rubber buttplate, and $2.50 factory engraved forend cap, hammer, and lever when it was received in the warehouse on March 29, 1882, and shipped on April 1, 1882, along with one other rifle with the same specifications.(It does not list the 50 express caliber!) The barrel has the two-line address/King's patent dates marking on the matted top flat, "CAL." on the upper left flat at the breech, and "50" on the upper right flat at the breech. The dust cover has serrations at the tail and is marked "WINCHESTER EXPRESS/50 CAL. 95 GRS." The brass cartridge elevator is marked "50-95." The upper tang is marked "MODEL 1876." Fitted with dovetailed beaded blade front sight and elevation adjustable rear sight. A light factory scroll motif is featured on the forend cap, hammer, and lever. With spectacular medium colored highly figured and checkered forearm and pistol grip stock. The grip area features an ebony insert, and the buttstock is fitted with a checkered hard rubber shotgun style buttplate. The left side of the lower tang is marked "XXXX 300 S," and the stock inlet is marked "P 300." Accompanied by Winchester Museum factory letters, and letters of provenance stating the rifle's history and ownership by William Ennis.