Lot 34: Stunning Special Order Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle

This Winchester Model 1866 lever action rifle manufactured c. 1872. This rifle has the Third Model receiver with the serial number, "118094", stamped in block letters on the lower tang behind the trigger. The rifle has a special order extra long 28-inch full octagon barrel. The barrel has a sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and the Henry style folding leaf rear sight. The rear sight leaf has a round top with 900 yard center notch and elevator bar stop screw. The full length magazine has a threaded cap. The forearm has the first style brass tip and is fitted with a factory sling swivel. The brass receiver has a single upper tang screw. The hammer has coarse, border-less, hand knurling on the spur. The hammer has a half-cock notch. The stock has the early, Henry style, brass buttplate with hinged trap door. The stock is fitted with a factory sling swivel. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the second style legend: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./ KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED -MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The barrel and magazine have a blue finish. The loading gate is fire blue. The hammer, trigger, lever and sling swivels are casehardened with muted case colors. The receiver, forearm cap and crescent buttplate have a natural brass finish. The stock and forearm are fancy, burl grain, American walnut with a varnished, piano finish. Fancy grain walnut stocks and forearms are very rare on Model 1866 rifles and carbines.

Excellent. The barrel and magazine tube retain 95% plus of the original blue finish. The Winchester legend on the top barrel flat is crisp. The loading gate has 90% plus of the fire blue finish remaining. The hammer and trigger have 90% of the original muted case colors with some cycling wear on the sides of the hammer and a darker patina on the contact points on the bottom of the lever. The brass forearm, receiver and crescent buttplate are in excellent condition with a beautiful, dark mustard yellow, patina. The receiver side plate joints are perfect and wear is limited to several very minor handling scratches and some small spots of discoloration on the left side of the receiver. The burl walnut stock and forearm are in excellent overall condition and retain nearly 95% of the high polish piano finish. Wear is limited to a 1/4-inch dent in the lower left side of the forearm and some scattered and very insignificant handling marks on the stock and forearm. This is a stunning example of a special order Winchester Model 1866 rifle with rare burl grain stock in exceptional condition.