In 1866 the New Haven Arms Company changed its name to Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The Model 1866 was the first firearm to be built under the Winchester name. It was a much improved version of the Henry, with such improvements as the solid magazine tube, the loading port and the addition of a forearm. They were extremely popular on the frontier west in the post Civil War era and typically saw extremely heavy use. This rifle is a Third Model that was manufactured in 1874 and features a 24" round barrel with full tubular magazine, fixed blade front sight and adjustable rear buck horn sight. The upper tang is equipped with a short range peep sight. The top of the barrel is marked "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS, NEW HAVEN. CT. / KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29, 1866, OCTOBER 16, 1860". The serial number is marked in block letters on the lower tang behind the lever. The straight grip stock and forearm are varnished walnut with a steel end cap and crescent buttplate with a compartment for a cleaning rod, (cleaning rod not included).