Winchester Model 1866 rifle that was manufactured circa 1868. The rifle has the First Style barrel legend: "HENRY'S-PATENT-OCT, 16, 1860/KING'S-PATENT-MARCH 29, 1866" roll-stamped in two-lines on the top barrel flat ahead of the rear sight. The rifle has the Second Model, single screw, upper tang and flared receiver at the junction with the forearm. The serial number, "21217" is stamped in block letters on the lower tang behind the trigger. The 24-inch, full octagon, barrel has a dove-tail mounted front sight with nickel-silver blade and a Henry style, folding leaf, rear sight with 900 yard center notch and and elevator bar stop screw at the top of the sight leaf. The stock and brass forearm cap are fitted with factory sling swivels. The brass buttplate has a sharply pointed heel and hinged butt-trap. The barrel, magazine and loading gate are blued and the hammer and lever are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut. The forearm cap, receiver, upper tang, cartridge elevator and buttplate are engraved with detailed scrollwork on a punch-dot background. The rifle is accompanied by a copy of a letter from firearms expert, author and historian Herbert G. Houze of Cody, Wyoming. The Houze letters states that this rifle was engraved at the Winchester factory by Conrad F. Ulrich in 1867 or 1868. The Houze letter includes a detailed analysis of C.F. Ulrich's engraving style and notes that the closest comparative piece to this rifle is the ivory stocked Model 1866 Winchester, serial number 21912, that was owned by Porfirio Diaz, the President of Mexico.

Good. Traces of silver remain on the tang under the matching serialized buttstock. The blue finish on the barrel has faded to a good-looking, plum brown patina with sharp edges and smooth surfaces. The barrel legend is sharp. The full-length magazine tube retains most of the period refurbished blue finish. Traces of the blue finish is present on the loading gate. The case colors on the hammer, trigger and lever have a deep brown patina. The lever has some scattered light pitting. The brass forearm cap, receiver and crescent buttplate have a mellow, unpolished patina. The edges of the side-plates have a few minor marks and scratches. The engraved surfaces show light handling wear but the engraving remains crisp. The walnut forearm has a number of old dents and scratches and there are several minor scratches and handling marks on the stock. Both the stock and forearm are in very good overall condition. This is a very desirable example of one of the earliest known factory engraved Winchester Model 1866 rifles complete with a letter of evaluation by a known contemporary firearm experts.