This is an exceptional example of a Winchester Model 1866 Carbine that was manufactured in 1868. The carbine has the early Model 1866 features which include: "HENRY'S-PATENT OCT.16.1860/KING'S-PATENT-MARCH 29.1866" barrel markings, receiver with flare at the junction with the forearm, single upper tang screw and crescent brass buttplate with sharp heel. The left side plate is inscribed "D. Edwin Hawley/New York/from H.E.H. Dec.25th 1868." A simple internet search has found a D. Edwin Hawley of New York registered at Gun's American Agency, No. 17 Charlotte Street, Bedford Square, London, England, Sept. 10, 1864 and listed as a Union League Club Member of New York (1868). According to the Club's website, the Union League Club was "founded in 1863 by a group of concerned citizens to help preserve the Union." Members of the Club helped to establish The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1870 and the Sanitary Commission (predecessor to the American Red Cross) as well as helping to build of the Statue of Liberty and Lincoln Monument in Union Square, New York. Over the past 150 years club members have included 15 Presidents, members of Congress, diplomats, cabinet members and chief executive officers of major corporations. J.P. Morgan, J.D. Rockefeller, Theodore Roosevelt, General William T. Sherman, Ulysses S. Grant, John Jay, William Cullen Bryant, Chester A. Arthur and Thomas Nast were all members. Preliminary research places D. Edwin Hawley among the elite socialites of New York society. Further research could discover some interesting results. The carbine has an upper barrel band with integral iron front sight blade, early threaded magazine cap, second style two-position carbine rear sight, staple-mounted saddle ring on the left side of the receiver and hinged butt trap. The butt trap contains a three piece jointed steel cleaning rod. The barrel, magazine tube and barrel bands are blue. The hammer and lever are casehardened and the loading gate is niter blue. The straight grain walnut stock and forearm have a varnish finish. The serial number, "16705", is stamped on the lower left side of the tang beneath the stock, in the upper tang inlet of the stock and on the inside of the buttplate. All of the serial numbers match. The assembly marks "CV" and the "W" factory inspection mark are stamped on the left side of the tang in front of the serial number.

Excellent. The barrel, magazine tube and barrel bands have 90% of the original blue finish. There is some finish loss on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. The upper right side of the barrel between the bands has several small rough spots with extensive moderate pitting. The Henry patent barrel markings are sharp. The receiver and buttplate are in excellent condition. The brass has a very attractive untouched mustard patina. The side plate joints are perfect. The engraved presentation is crisp. The loading gate retains 50% of the niter blue finish. The hammer and loading lever have a brown patina with strong traces of the original case colors. The stock and forearm are very fine and retain much of the original varnish finish with only very minor handling and storage wear. Model 1866 Winchester carbines were typically working guns that are rarely encountered with presentation engraving and typically show the effects of hard use. This is an outstanding early Henry's Patent Winchester Model 1866 Carbine with early features and rarely encountered presentation inscription.