Winchester Model 1866 Carbine manufactured in 1866. The carbine has very desirable early features that include: (1) Henry and King patent dates on the barrel, (2) flat loading port cover, (3) two screw upper tang and (4) Henry style rear receiver profile. The barrel has the first style barrel band with integral front sight blade and early style, hinged leaf, rear sight. The magazine has the early, threaded cap. The left side of the receiver has a staple mounted saddle ring. The hammer has coarse, borderless, knurling on the spur and lacks a half-cock notch. The lever loop is the early small size. The carbine has a Henry style, crescent brass buttplate with pointed spur and brass trap door. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the first style legend: "HENRY'S PATENT-OCT. 16. 1860/KING'S PATENT-MARCH 29. 1866." in two lines between the lower barrel band and the rear sight. The stock was not removed to examine the serial number stamped on the left side of the lower tang but the inside of the buttplate is stamped with the rifle serial number "12979". The butt trap contains a three-piece, jointed cleaning rod with brass tip. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut. The barrel, magazine, barrel bands, and loading gate are blued. The hammer, lever and trigger are casehardened.

Very good. The rifle is all original. The barrel, magazine, barrel bands, rear sight and loading gate have a dark, untouched patina. The barrel legend is faint. The case colors on the hammer, trigger and lever have a mottled brown patina. The brass receiver and buttplate are in good overall condition. The receiver has scattered light dents and scratches and the upper edges of the side plates have numerous shallow disassembly marks. There are a number of shallow scratches in the left side of the receiver surrounding the saddle ring. The stock and forearm are in good overall condition with moderate handling wear that consists of shallow dents and scratches. The stock and forearm are solid with no period or modern repairs. All Model 1866 Carbines were working guns that saw hard use but the early carbines; particularly first year production carbines like this example were used especially hard. Surviving examples are rare in any condition. This is an outstanding example of a very desirable first year production Winchester Model 1866 Carbine with early features. This carbine would be an impressive addition to the most advanced collection of Winchester or Western firearms.