This Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle was manufactured in 1882. The rifle has a blade front sight, adjustable buckhorn rear sight and a full length magazine tube. The top barrel flat is marked "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS, NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29, 1866, OCTOBER 16, 1860" ahead of the rear sight. The serial number "156601" is stamped on the lower tang. The straight grip stock and forearm are oil finished and the buttstock is fitted with a late production Fourth Model steel crescent buttplate with a compartment (cleaning rod not included). The Model 1866 Winchester Rifle was essentially a Henry Rifle with improvements such as the modified magazine with the side loading gate, and new walnut forearm, which 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.

Very good plus. The barrel and magazine have traces of bright blue with the balance a smooth dark patina with minor pitting. The buttplate is missing the screw near the toe.The fine crisp original brass has an attractive aged patina with an area of darker patina around the hammer. 40% of the original nitre blue is remaining on the loading gate. The wood is fine with a number of minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.