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Factory Engraved Winchester Model 1866 Musket with Factory Letter

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Muskets Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 35,000.00 USD
Factory Engraved Winchester Model 1866 Musket with Factory Letter
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Factory Engraved Winchester Model 1866 Musket with Factory Letter

Manufactured in 1875. The Third Style musket has the serial number located on the lower tang behind the trigger and receiver with flare at the junction with the forearm. The musket has the distinctive features that include a 27 inch round barrel, 24 inch magazine, 17 inch forearm, block style front sight base that serves as a base for a socket bayonet, three barrel bands, carbine style buttplate and sling loops located on the middle barrel band and stock. The buttplate has a sliding brass trap door with trap that contains a four piece jointed steel cleaning rod. The barrel has a non-standard folding leaf rear sight with external spring. The sight features a small 1 5/16 inch long sight leaf with un-numbered range graduations. The top of the barrel is roll stamped with the legend "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS-NEWHAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." ahead of the rear sight. The serial number "128445" is stamped in block numerals on the lower tang behind the trigger. The musket has a full nickel plated finish with varnished straight grain American walnut stock and forearm. The receiver, cartridge elevator and buttplate heel are decorated with Winchester Style 2 engraving. The engraving features Germanic scrollwork on a punch dot background with scallop and dot borders. The right side plate is engraved with an open inscription scroll and the left side plate has a detailed white tail buck in a round panel. Identical engraving identified as the work of John Conrad or Herman Ulrich is illustrated on page 78 of THE BOOK OF WINCHESTER ENGRAVING by R.L. Wilson. A nickel plated Winchester 1866 Musket with similar Ulrich engraving (serial no. 134957) is pictured on page 77 of THE BOOK OF WINCHESTER ENGRAVING. The combination of factory engraving and nickel plating on a Winchester 1866 Musket is rare. The accompanying factory letter verifies the musket configuration, engraved, nickel plated, that it was received in the warehouse on February 11, 1876 and shipped to order number 2726 on February 25, 1876.

Manufacture: Winchester
Model: 1866
BBL: 27 inch round
Stock: varnished walnut
Gauge: 44 rimfire
Finish: nickel
Grips:
Serial Number: 128445

Extremely fine. The musket retains more than 95% of the period, possibly retailer, applied nickel plated finish. The nickel plating has dulled slightly from age but finish loss is limited to some flaking on the lower sling swivel and some scattered age spots on the buttplate. The receiver is excellent overall with some minor dents on the forward edge of the loading gate and adjacent areas of the receiver. The side plate joints are tight. The engraving is crisp and deep. The barrel legend is sharp. The stock and forearm are very good overall and retain 90% of the varnish finish with some scattered minor handling and storage marks. This is an attractive example of a rare and very desirable nickel plated Winchester 1866 Musket with Ulrich pattern factory engraving.