3001

Highly Desirable Early Production Winchester Second Model 1866 Rifle with Henry's Patent Barrel Mark

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:12,000.00 - 17,000.00 USD
Highly Desirable Early Production Winchester Second Model 1866 Rifle with Henry's Patent Barrel Mark
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Estimate: $12000 - 17000
Manufacturer: Winchester Model: 1866
This is an example of an early Model 1866 rifle manufactured in 1868 that is serialized internally on the tang (like a Henry Rifle). The Model 1866 Winchester Rifle was essentially a Henry Rifle with improvements invented and patented by Winchester shop superintendent Nelson King in 1865-66. These improvements; the side loading gate and modified magazine, combined with the addition of a walnut forearm eliminated the primary defects in the Henry rifle and created the lever action rifle associated with the name "Winchester". This Model 1866 Rifle features the early two line making "HENRY'S PATENT OCT. 16. 1860/KING'S-PATENT-MARCH 29. 1866" on the top barrel flat ahead of the rear sight. The rifle has the desirable early features that include a threaded magazine cap, recessed chamber, Henry style round top folding leaf rear sight, indented loading gate retained by a single screw, squared brass forend tip secured by a single screw, coarsely knurled hammer and the small size loading lever. The Second Pattern brass receiver is flared at the junction with the forearm, single upper tang screw and straight face on the front of the ejection port. The serial number is marked on the left side of the lower tang under the stock and the matching number is stamped on the upper tang slot of the stock. Blade front sight, full magazine tube, blue barrel and magazine, casehardened hammer and lever, brass frame and mounted with a smooth walnut forearm and straight grip stock with a brass forend cap, sling swivels and brass crescent buttplate with a buttstock compartment containing a four piece cleaning rod. The Model 1866 Rifle was popular world-wide but is mostly closely associated with the post-Civil War West. More than any other long-arm, the brass-frame Model 1866 Winchester is the classic rifle of the Frontier West.
BBL: 24 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 RF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 16265
Condition:
Very good plus. The barrel retains 20% blue finish mixed with a smooth mottled brown patina and the magazine tube has a smooth mottled brown patina. The hammer and lever have a smooth mottled gray patina. The brass components have a very pleasant aged patina. The side plates fit tightly and show no signs of having been removed. The ladder sight has been filed down during period of usage. The wood is also very good with a couple of small shallow gouges and overall scattered minor dents, dings and scratches associated with a gun of this age. The markings are clear. The action functions fine but the lever drops when not secured by catch. This is a nice example of an extremely early production Winchester Model 1866 rifle. These rifles were working guns and usually saw hard use.