This is an very fine example of an original Winchester Model 1866 lever action rifle manufactured in 1872 that is equipped with factory sling swivels on the buttstock and forend cap. The Model 1866 was the first firearm to be built under the Winchester name after the New Haven Arms Company changed its name to Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1866. It was a much improved version of the Henry rifle and featured a side loading port, solid magazine tube and a walnut forend that covered the rear of the magazine tube. They were extremely popular on the western frontier in the post-Civil War era and typically saw extremely heavy use. This features a 24 inch octagon barrel with full tubular magazine, fixed front sight and a first pattern, two position adjustable rear sight with the sight tangent marked "1-7". The top of the barrel is marked "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS, NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29, 1866, OCTOBER 16, 1860". The serial number (105537) is marked on the lower tang behind the trigger. The straight grip stock and forearm are varnished walnut. It has a brass forend cap and a brass crescent buttplate with a compartment for a cleaning rod, not included.

Very fine with 40% plus of the original blue finish on the barrel and magazine tube. The exposed barrel flats towards the front of the barrel show more thinning and mixed brown patina. The brass receiver, side plates, forend cap and buttplate are also in very fine condition with an attractive aged patina look. The side plates having not been removed. The screw heads all look to be in very fine condition with only a couple showing some limited signs of having been tightened. The forend and buttstock both are in fine plus condition with a tight metal to wood fit showing only minor handling marks on the sides. There is a small hairline crack visible on each side of the stock, starting at the lower edge of the buttplate right in the location of the at the lower screw area. Mechanically excellent.