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Winchester Third Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,600.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
Winchester Third Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle

Estimate: $4000 - 8000
This is a solid example of a Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle that was manufactured in 1882. This rifle has the age appearance that you see with an "attic find" rifle. The Model 1866 Winchester Rifle was essentially a Henry Rifle with improvements invented and patented by Winchester's shop superintendent Nelson King in 1866. The modified magazine with the side loading gate, and new walnut forearm eliminated the primary defects in the Henry rifle and created a lever action rifle that has been associated with the name "Winchester", and the opening of the Western frontier. The top of the barrel is roll-marked with the two-line factory markings of: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860.", and is fitted with a half, nickel-silver, front sight and sporting leaf rear sight, the latter of which unfortunately has been broken off, mid-length, with the front dovetailed section now acting as the rear sight. The breech bolt is the second pattern that originally was a rim-fire converted to a center fire, firing pin. It has the steel crescent buttplate with the cleaning rod trap with sliding door and the forearm cap is made of steel. The serial number, "158,645" is stamped on the lower rear section of the tang behind the trigger. The stock and forearm are straight grain black walnut with a varnish finish.
BBL: 24 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 CF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 158645
Condition: Good with the metal having turned a deep dark plum-brown patina finish overall with some areas of thinning finish mixed with some very fine old rust spots. The receiver and side plates are an attractive, aged mustard colored patina finish and have not been removed for a very long time. The stock and forend are both in very good condition also with minor handling marks, nicks and dings. The edges of the wood still sits some what proud overall with a two inch long hairline crack present on right side of wrist. The screw heads do show some very old screw-driver marks, and all show dried, build up oil and dirt around the edges, with the same appearance around the side plate. The extractor is missing. A solid representative example of a Winchester Model1866 Lever Action Rifle.
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