This Winchester Model 1866 musket was manufactured c. 1877. This Model 1866 musket is complete with a Cody Firearms Museum letter that describes it as: "Musket, Nickeled" and "Engraved". The Cody letter further states that this musket was shipped from Winchester on March 24, 1877, with 345 other arms as part of Order No. 8365. This musket has the distinctive features that include 27-inch round barrel with 24-inch magazine, 17-inch forearm, three barrel bands, sling swivels on the middle barrel band and stock and carbine style buttplate. The barrel has a block style front sight that serves as a lug for the angular socket bayonet and dovetail mounted, folding leaf rear sight. The buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor. The Third Model receiver has a single upper tang screw and has the serial number stamped in block letters on the lower receiver tang. The musket has a very rare full nickel-plated finish. The stock and forearm are varnished, straight grain walnut. The barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS.- NEWHAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 25.1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860" between the lower barrel band and the rear sight. This musket was engraved by Conrad or John Ulrich and features detailed scroll engraving on a punch-dot background on the sides, top and bottom of the receiver, upper and lower tang, cartridge elevator and buttplate heel. The left side plate has a round vignette depicting a standing pronghorn antelope. The engraving on this musket is illustrated and described on page 93 of "WINCHESTER ENGRAVING" by R.L. Wilson. In the description the author states: "Muskets are among the most sought after types in the field of Winchester engraving".

Fine. This rare engraved musket retains 90% of the period thick applied nickel-plated finish with some scattered flaking. The finish wear is most pronounced on the loading gate which has 40% of the nickel plating remaining and the buttplate which has 75% of the plating with finish wear on the heel and flaking on the body. The expertly executed scroll and game vignette remains sharp. The barrel address exhibits pitting through the plating, leading the writer to draw the conclusion that it is replated, most likely in the period. The straight grain walnut stock and forearm very good overall condition. The forearm has several shallow bruises and light handling marks. The stock shows less handling wear than the forearm but appears to have been re-varnished. This is a fully documented example of a very fine factory engraved Winchester lever action Model 1866 Musket.