This Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle was manufactured in 1868. The rifle has the Second Model receiver with single upper tang screw and flare at the junction with the forearm. The rifle has the distinctive brass (gunmetal) receiver, forearm cap with single retaining screw and crescent buttplate. The brass components are gold plated. The barrel and full length magazine are blued and the hammer, lever and trigger are color casehardened. The loading gate has a niter blue finish. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut with a high polish piano finish. The 24-inch full octagon barrel has a unique non-factory, dovetail mounted, buckhorn style front sight and factory early pattern folding leaf rear sight. The rear sight has an elevator bar stoop screw at the top of the leaf and 900 yard center notch. The hammer spur has border-less hand knurling. The buttplate has a hinged trapdoor with steel retaining pin. Special order factory sling swivels are mounted on the forearm cap and stock. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with early Winchester legend: "HENRY'S PATENT-OCT. 16. 1860/KING'S PATENT-Mach 29. 1866." in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The serial number "21202" is stamped in block numerals on the lower tang behind the trigger. The French manufacturer/retail mark, "JB RIVOLIER St ETIENNE" is on the top of the barrel in gold inlaid letters.

Fine. The barrel and magazine remain 95% intact and were period retailer reblued at the same time the gold inlaid markings were applied. The barrel edges are sharp, and the factory legend and gold inlaid markings are all crisp. The loading gate retains 40% of the original niter blue finish. The hammer, trigger and lever have traced of the faded case colors. The sling swivels have a brown patina. Small amounts of the delicate gold plated finish remain on protected areas of the forearm cap, receiver and buttplate. The brass components remain in very fine condition with minimal handling wear. The receiver side plate joints are excellent. The walnut stock and forearm remain in very fine condition and retain more than 90% of the high polish piano finish. Wear is limited to scattered and very minor handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent.