Winchester Model 1866 Saddle Ring Carbine manufactured c.1868-1869. This carbine has the second model receiver with single screw upper tang and flare at junction with the forearm. Early features on this carbine include the two-line legend: "HENRY'S-PATENT-OCT. 16. 1860/KING'S-PATENT-MARCH 29. 1866" roll-stamped on the top of the barrel between the lower barrel band and the rear sight, screw-in magazine cap, first style upper barrel band with integral front sight blade, two-position rear sight with apertures marked "1, 3" and "5" and crescent buttplate with sharply pointed heel and hinged butt trap. A staple-mounted saddle ring is located on the left side of the receiver. The hammer has coarse, border-less, knurling on the spur. The carbine has the distinctive brass receiver and buttplate with blued 20-inch round barrel, magazine and loading gate. The barrel bands, hammer, trigger and loading lever are casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain, oil-finished American walnut. In addition to the Henry's Patent legend on the barrel, the lower receiver tang has the serial number stamped behind the hammer followed by an "A" Winchester inspection mark between the tang screws. This rifle is accompanied by a copy of a hand-written evaluation by author and Winchester expert George Madis. The Madis letter states that the rifle is all original with no alterations. The letter further states that the last four numerals of the serial number are stamped on the inside of the buttplate, and in the upper tang inlet of the stock. The letter states that the carbine is still chambered for the .44 Henry Rimfire cartridge and that there are no alternations to the chamber, firing pin or bolt. Madis concludes that: "Overall this carbine remains in excellent condition with some of the original finish remaining on the steel and iron parts and the balance of the finish is an aged brown patina".

Fine. The blue on the barrel and magazine has mostly faded to a plum patina with smooth metal surfaces and clear factory legend. Wear is limited to a few spots of age discoloration on the barrel at the muzzle and some age discoloration and several very shallow spots of pitting on the magazine. The loading gate retains 30% of the nitre blue finish. The case colors on the barrel bands have aged to a gray-brown patina with some silvering on contact points. The hammer retains most of the original muted case colors while the lever and trigger have a brown patina. The brass receiver and crescent buttplate are in very fine condition with an attractive "mustard yellow" patina. The side plate joints are perfect. The receiver and buttplate show only very limited handling wear. The stock and forearm are in fine overall condition; much of the oil finish remains; wear is limited to a few very insignificant handling marks primarily on the forearm. The majority of the surviving Model 1866 rifles and carbines show hard use. Carbines in particular were "working" firearms and almost every example shows the effects of years of hard service. Early production Model 1866 carbines in fine, unaltered condition like this example are rare and very desirable. As the Madis letter concludes: "This is a fine collectors Winchester, and because of the age, condition and rarity, it deserves a prominent place in any collection or museum".