This Third Model Winchester 1866 Musket was manufactured in 1870 and engraved and signed by Conrad F. Ulrich. The musket has the distinctive 27-inch round barrel with 24-inch magazine and long (17-inch) forearm, three barrel bands and block-mounted front sight that serves as a lug for a socket bayonet. The barrel has a dovetail mounted, Henry style, folding leaf rear sight with 900 yard center notch and elevator bar stop screw. Sling swivels are mounted on the middle barrel band and the stock. The upper tang is factory drilled and tapped for a rear sight. The carbine style buttplate has a sliding trapdoor. The butt trap contains a nickel-plated, four-piece, jointed steel cleaning rod. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend "WINCHESTER-REPEATING-ARMS. NEWHAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." between the lower barrel band and the rear sight. "C" is stamped on the top of the barrel just ahead of the receiver. The serial number "61216" is stamped in an engraved banner behind the trigger on the lower tang. The rifle and bayonet have a full nickel-plated finish. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut with a semi-gloss finish. The top sides and bottom of the receiver, cartridge elevator, upper and lower tang and buttplate heel are engraved with American style scrollwork on a punch-dot background. A face is partially hidden in the scrollwork of the left side of the receiver in a style more typical of Gustave Young. Both sides of the receiver are decorated with stylish open panels and shields. The scrollwork panels are separated by elaborate engraved borders. The rifle is signed with the tiny rectangular stamp: "C.F. ULRICH" behind the trigger. Factory engraved Model 1866 Muskets are extremely rare. Ulrich signed Model 1866 Muskets are rarer still. No Ulrich signed or engraved Model 1866 Muskets are illustrated in the primary references on Winchester factory engraving "The Book of Winchester Engraving" by R.L. Wilson or "The Winchester Book" by George Madis. This magnificent Ulrich signed engraved Winchester Model 1866 musket is consecutively serial numbered to the following lot. Provenance: The Quail Creek Collection

Excellent. The musket retains 97% plus original nickel plated finish. Wear is limited to the muzzle from contact with the bayonet socket, and some very minor age spotting on the barrel bands, forward edge of the receiver, loading gate, bolt and edges of the buttplate. The barrel legend is sharp. The flawlessly executed engraving is extremely crisp. The stock and forearm are both in excellent condition with a few minor handling marks and retain nearly all of the original finish. Mechanically excellent. The socket bayonet is very fine overall with scattered flaking and discoloration on the edges of the blade and socket. This is an ultra-rare, perhaps one-of-a-kind, Winchester Model 1866 Musket that is factory engraved and signed by Master Engraver Conrad F. Ulrich.