Manufactured in 1868. The rifle has a special order 28 inch octagon barrel, as standard length was 24 inches. Special order length barrels on Model 1866 rifles are rare. Although the top barrel flat lacks a Winchester legend, it is stamped with a California retailer marking at the breech: "B. BIGELOW, MARYSVILLE, CAL." The front blade sight is worn down, and the rear dovetail slot is empty. A period made dovetail slot on top of the receiver has been filled. The quality of the dovetail and the fill suggest the modifications were done by a period professional gunsmith, perhaps Bigelow himself. The bolt retains its original rimfire firing pin. The upper tang has a single screw. A sling swivel is mounted on the underside of the brass forend cap, and the stock sling swivel base has been removed. The straight grip stock is fitted with a trapdoor brass crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included). Benjamin Berry Bigelow was an early Western frontier gunsmith who established his gun shop in Marysville, California, and worked from 1860 until 1888. Marysville, named after one of the few Donner Party survivors, became an early epic center for Northern California gold mining operations and was one of the largest cities in California during the state's first decade of existence.

Fair overall showing real California frontier use. The barrel and magazine tube have an untouched smooth dark patina. The brass has a mixed darkened aged patina. The cracked forearm has an absent sliver and the stock is cracked and chipped at the toe, otherwise the wood generally has hairline stress cracks and typical dings and scratches associated with a working gun from the period. Mechanically fine. A Model 1866 rifle with rare extra length barrel with equally rare California retailer marking.