Manufactured in 1871. This deluxe Model 1866 is factory engraved with six panel scenes on the receiver. The right side plate features a dangerous game scene that has gone horribly wrong for a frontiersman who is being mauled by a grizzly bear. The rifle’s mate, serial number 79868, which is only one number away from this rifle, bears a strikingly similar macabre dangerous game panel scene (see R.L. Wilson’s “Winchester Engraving” on page 111). Number 79868 features a left side plate scene depicting a native being devoured by a crocodile while two other natives watch helplessly. As R.L. Wilson put it, “Lacking a trusty Winchester, the natives on the left side plate are apparently resigned to watching their friend vanish into the gullet of the voracious crocodile.” On 79869 the crocodile has been replaced with a grizzly bear but while the onlookers on 79868 are helpless, there are certainly no helpless onlookers in the attacking grizzly bear scene. A hunter in the background takes aim at the grizzly with his “trusty Winchester” in a desperate attempt to save the pinned down man. 79868 bears (no pun intended) the signature of Master Engraver Conrad F. Ulrich. While this rifle lacks a signature, the analogous “morbidly humorous” scene on 79868, coupled with the single digit difference in serial numbers, gives rise to the strong possibility that Conrad Ulrich also engraved this Model 1866. C. Ulrich was no stranger to engraving macabre scenes on Model 1866s and additional examples attributed to him include numbers 46022 (attacking African lion), 46035 (gunfight between a frontiersman and Native Americans), 79860 (decapitated moose with a hunter walking away with the head), and 80492 (attacking tigers). Rock Island Auction Co. previously sold 79868 in the November 2012 Premier Auction as lot 1012. The other vignettes on this rifle depict a rooster on both sides at the rear, a dog on the right side and an eagle/shield motif on the left side. The left side plate has a pair of deer. In addition to the panel scenes the receiver features floral scrollwork on a punch dot background and various stylized borders. The forend cap and buttplate tang are engraved to match. The top barrel flat is stamped with the two-line address/patent dates marking ahead of the rear sight. The dovetail blade and flip up rear sights are replacements. A sling eyelet is mounted on the forend cap, and a sling swivel is mounted on the underside of the buttstock. The forearm and straight grip stock are deluxe “XX” checkered walnut. The left side of the lower tang is hand marked "XX" followed by a stamped “OXX.” The stock inlet and trapdoor buttplate are numbered to the gun (“79869”). The left side of the upper tang is period hand marked “Wed 10th $20.00,” perhaps an indication to the engraving date and cost. Includes a four piece cleaning rod.

Very good. The barrel and magazine tube exhibit a mottled brown-gray patina. Slight traces of original gold remain in the lines of the crisp engraving, otherwise the brass has a highly attractive even honey colored appearance. The non-factory replacement wood is fine with some minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. A fine work of Winchester’s “morbidly humorous” art done in the last half of the 19th century sure to find a special place in your lever action or firearms art collection.