This is an extremely fine original example of a Winchester Model 1866 carbine that was manufactured in 1875. The carbine has the distinctive Third Model receiver profile and serial number located on the lower tang behind the trigger. The upper barrel band has an integral front sight blade. The magazine has the first style threaded cap. The barrel has an early dovetail mounted rear sight with three apertures graduated for 100, 300 and 500 yards. A staple-mounted sling ring is mounted on the left side of the receiver. The barrel, magazine, barrel bands and loading gate are blue. The hammer and lever have a color casehardened finish. The stock has a brass carbine style buttplate with sliding brass trapdoor. The stock and forearm are straight grain black walnut with an oil finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the second style legend "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEWHAVEN . CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 25 1866. OCT. 16. 1860" in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The serial number "127369" is stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger.

Very fine overall. The barrel, magazine and upper barrel band retain 60% plus of the original blue finish; the lower band shows slightly more finish wear. The loading gate has 70% of the niter blue finish intact. The hammer has nearly all of the dove-gray case colors. The case colors on the lever have aged to a brown patina. The distinctive brass receiver and buttplate are both very fine with a mellow unpolished aged patina. The receiver side plate joints are perfect. Wear is limited to numerous scratches present around lever screw on left side and light handling marks. The stock and forearm are both fine. The forearm has several very minor handling marks while the stock has almost no handling wear. Model 1866 carbines were working guns that typically saw hard use. Carbines with any amount of original finish are rarely encountered. This is an exceptional example of an 1875 production Winchester Model 1866 saddle ring carbine.