This Winchester Model 1866 Saddle Ring Carbine was manufactured in 1867, and has the correct early features which include receiver flare at the junction with the forearm, single upper tang screw and serial number correctly stamped on the left side of the lower tang beneath the stock. The receiver has the indented loading port cover retained by a single screw. The 20-inch bound barrel has the first pattern upper barrel band with integral front sight blade and first style two-leaf rear sight. The magazine has a threaded cap. A staple-mounted saddle ring is located on the left side of the receiver. The hammer has coarse, border-less knurling that covers almost the entire spur. The brass crescent buttplate has a hinged trapdoor, and the butt trap contains a three-piece, jointed, steel, cleaning rod with brass tip. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the first style markings: "HENRY'S-PATENT-OCT. 16. 1860/KING'S-PATENT-MARCH 29. 1866" in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The serial number is stamped on the left side of lower tang beneath the stock. "CO" is stamped immediately ahead of the serial number. The serial number is also stamped in the upper tang inlet of the stock and on the inside of the buttplate. The brass receiver and buttplate have the distinctive natural finish. The carbine barrel and magazine are blue finish. The loading port cover is a fiery niter blue. The barrel bands, hammer, trigger, lever and lever latch are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut with a low luster varnish or oil finish.

Extremely fine. 85% plus of the original blue is present on the barrel. The markings are sharp. The blue on the magazine is thin and has mostly aged to a plum-blue tone. There is a small area of very light pitting on the left side and bottom of the magazine below the barrel band. The bolt retains 60% of the blue finish. Most of the fire blue finish is present on the loading port cover. The barrel bands retain 75% of the casehardened finish with silvering on the contact points on either side. The hammer, trigger, lever and lever latch have 90% plus of the casehardened finish. The brass receiver and buttplate are in very fine-excellent condition and have a mellow, untouched patina. The receiver sideplate joints are perfect, and the receiver is free from scratches or handling marks The buttplate has several very insignificant handling marks but remains in excellent condition. The lightly re-oiled stock and forearm remain in very fine condition. Nearly all Winchester Model 1866 rifles and carbines show service wear. Model 1866 Carbines in particular saw hard use as "working guns" and are scarce in fine or better condition. An early production Model 1866 Carbine in excellent condition like this example is extremely rare. It would be hard to find a better example of a Winchester Second Model 1866 Saddle Ring Carbine.