The '66 secured Winchester's place in the annals of the West and launched a long line of successful Winchester lever actions that remain popular to this day and still retain the basic form of the '66. This carbine example was manufactured in 1871 and remains in above average condition, not often encountered for one of the earliest and most widely used repeating rifles in the American West. It is a third model with the serial number stamped in block letter behind the trigger and a more moderately curved shape at the rear of the frame when compared to its predecessors. This carbine has the distinctive brass receiver, round barrel, full length magazine tube, front barrel band featuring an integral front sight, two leaf rear sight, saddle ring on the left side of the receiver, and walnut stock with a trapdoor crescent brass buttplate. A three piece cleaning rod is included. The top of the barrel is stamped with the two-line Winchester New Haven/patent dates legend ahead of the rear sight. The lower tang is stamped with the serial number behind the trigger.

Fine. The barrel, magazine tube and barrel bands retain 30% original blue finish with a smooth brown patina on the balance. The exceptionally fine, attractively aged brass has a highly attractive honey colored appearance. The receiver has tight fitting side plates. 40% of the original nitre blue remains on the loading gate. The forearm has a hairline crack ahead of the barrel band (left); otherwise, the wood is fine with a number of minor dings and scratches mostly on the buttstock. A solid and fine representative example of Winchester's legendary Model 1866 SRC. Mechanically fine.