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Early 3rd Model Winchester 1866 Lever Action Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:9,000.00 USD Estimated At:18,000.00 - 24,000.00 USD
Early 3rd Model Winchester 1866 Lever Action Rifle
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA
Early 3rd Model Winchester 1866 Lever Action Rifle, #27649, .44 RF cal., 24'' blue octagon barrel, brass frame, buttplate and forend cap; period added rear shallow buckhorn sight, original front sight blade replaced with brass bead type in original sight base, tang sight is high quality later copy of Winchester's earliest tang mounted peep sight with exterior retaining spring, standard rear sling swivel, later type forward sling swivel mounted thru forend cap; smooth varnished walnut stock, with standard brass crescent buttplate. Top of barrel marked ''Winchester's Repeating Arms, New Haven. CT./King's Improvement Patented March 29, 1866. October 16, 1860''. Left side of lower tang marked ''V''; upper tang stock channel marked ''27649''; lower casting rib to inside of brass buttplate marked ''7649''. Mfg'd 1869. Condition is fine to near excellent retaining approx. 80% lightly thinning and moderately toning blue to barrel and mag tube. Original magazine tube with seam at the 12 o'clock position. Loading gate retains 65% original toning and darkening blue with bright streak at lower half of cove from bullet insertion. Brass frame and sideplates with even mellow patina; sideplates fit impeccably. Screw slots show well with only slight aberations to screws at bottom of frame. Case hardened hammer and lever have darkened. Trigger shows medium toning blue just remaining in protected areas. Stock with light scuffs and dings with additional coat of linseed oil. Forend with scuffs, scratches and wear thru varnish at balance point. Action is crisp with sharp edges to lifter, bore is fine to near excellent. An exceptional early 3rd Model with beautiful brass. Est.: $18,000-$24,000. (Antique)