Highly Desirable Freund Patent Marked Winchester Model 1876 Lever Action Rifle with Rare Freund's Patent Sight

Manufactured in 1882, this rifle is a solid example of Winchester’s Model 1876 as modified by the Freund brothers, noted German immigrant gunsmiths who became legendary for their frontier gunsmithing. The Freund brothers traveled westward, setting up temporary shops along the way before establishing permanent locations in Denver, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. They were known for retailing and improving single-shot rifles, particularly the Sharps Model 1874, making a repeater modified by their shop relatively rare. Their clientele included notable figures such as Philip Sheridan, George Cook, and Theodore Roosevelt.

The Model 1876 was popular on the frontier for its larger, more powerful chamberings, capable of handling the most dangerous wildlife and threats of the American West. The top flat of the barrel carries the standard two-line Winchester address and King’s patent marking, caliber marking at the breech, and “FREUND’S/PATENT/JUNE 28/1880./DURANGO/COLO” just behind the rear sight, likely indicating Freund shop modification. The caliber marking is repeated on the bottom of the cartridge elevator, with the model marking on the upper tang and serial number on the lower tang.

The rifle features a Freund blade front sight with the patent marking on the base, and an “1876” folding ladder rear sight with a period-modified, more open notch, likely done by the Freund shop. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock, finished with a trapdoor crescent buttplate.