Manufactured in 1873 and featuring an elaborate Mexican eagle themed engraving that, according to Winchester expert and author George Madis, was done by famed 19th century master engraver L.D. Nimschke, as it has Nimschke's initials ("L.D.N.") signed on the lower tang. It is not often that we catalog works signed by Nimschke. The carbine is pictured and identified in Madis' "The Winchester Book" on page 80. As Madis points out, "The Mexican eagle and scrolls are typical of L.D.N. engraving on the model 66. The dark spots surrounding the eagle are stars applied with a punch, as are the stars inside the entwined borders. All of the major lines on this gun were engraved with a single-point tool. Most of the shading is cut one line at a time, with some shading done with a liner. Expert shading is the mark of a master and this gun is an outstanding example of such shading." The carbine is engraved in a similar style and pattern as two notable Model 1866 carbines, nos. 13187 and 17144, attributed to famed 19th century engraver L.D. Nimschke's shop, as pictured and identified in R.L. Wilson's "The Book of Winchester Engraving" on pages 43 and 44. No. 13187 is inscribed to Maximilian (1832-1867), the Austrian royal who became emperor of Mexico in 1864 and was executed in June 1867. (Of special note, Maximilian's legendary L.D. Nimschke shop engraved and relief carved Model 1866 carbine no. 21921 is in this auction.) Like this carbine, nos. 13187 and 17144 are decorated with profuse floral scrollwork on a punch dot background along with a Mexican eagle motif on the left side plate. Even the entwined border ahead of the Mexican eagle appears on all three carbines. A smoke pull of a similar Mexican eagle motif on a Model 1866 is found in R.L. Wilson's "L.D. Nimschke Firearms Engraver" on page 55. Additional engraving patterns on this carbine include a star burst on top of the receiver, cross hatching on the cartridge elevator, and rope pattern on the upper tang. The carbine is fitted with a blade front sight, folding two-leaf rear sight and a saddle ring on the left side of the receiver. The bolt features a centerfire firing pin. The top of the barrel is stamped with the two-line Winchester address/King's improvement patent dates marking. The brass buttplate has a trapdoor (cleaning rod not included) and a flourish of scrollwork on the tang.

Very good. The barrel and magazine have a smooth dark brown patina. The brass has an attractive mellow appearance with traces of the gold remaining. The engraving is crisp. The wood is also very good with some hairline cracks mostly on the buttstock and some minor dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. An outstanding work of Nimschke signed firearms art that uses the distinctive Model 1866 brass receiver as its canvas.