This highly embellished Early Production Model 1866 Winchester carbine was manufactured in 1869. This carbine has the Third Model receiver profile and serial number, "48139" stamped in block letters on the lower tang behind the trigger. The barrel bands, receiver, hammer, trigger, lever and crescent buttplate are nickel-plated and the barrel and magazine are blued. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut. This carbine is decorated with very detailed, deluxe, scroll engraving on a fine matted background. The engraving covers the receiver top, sides and bottom, upper and lower tang, cartridge elevator, bottom of the lever, barrel bands, and buttplate heel. The heads of the receiver and tang screws are engraved. Standard Winchester engraving was usually limited to the receiver, buttplate and forend and additional engraving is rare. The forward portions of both sides of the receiver are engraved with distinctive, heart-shaped, motifs. A Model 1866 carbine, serial number 48311, with similar nickel-plated finish, heart-shaped motifs and extra engraving coverage is pictured and described on page 82 of "THE WINCHESTER BOOK" by George Madis. In addition to the engraving and nickel-plating, the stock and forearm are decorated with wire inlay scrollwork. The carbine has the early style upper barrel band with integral front sight blade, non-adjustable, two-leaf rear sight with apertures marked "1", "3" and "5". A staple-mounted saddle ring is located on the left side of the receiver. The crescent buttplate has a hinged trap. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEWHAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." ahead of the rear sight. Winchester Model 1866 carbines were generally purchased as working firearms an are rarely found with the deluxe engraving, plated finish and wire stock inlays on this carbine. A nickel-plated, deluxe engraved, Model 1866 Carbine like this example is very rare.

Very fine. The carbine retains about 70% of the nickel-plated finish. The blue finish on the barrel and magazine has aged to a plum brown patina. Most of the plating is present on the receiver with some scattered flaking and finish wear on the contact points. The barrel bands and lever have nearly all of the plated finish. The hammer and saddle ring have considerable finish loss. The plated finish on the crescent buttplate has high-point wear with scattered age spotting. The niter blue on the loading gate has aged to a dark patina. The detailed scroll engraving and fine matting remains crisp. The barrel legend is sharp. The stock and forearm show moderate handling wear but remain in fine condition. This is a very rare example of a nickel-plated, deluxe New York Engraved Winchester Model 1866 Saddle Ring Carbine.