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LOT 1035
Highly Attractive Early Production Winchester Model 1866
Lever Action Saddle Ring Carbine with Desirable Henry’s
Patent Barrel Marking - Serial no. 15094, 44 RF cal., 20 inch round
bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Model 1866 was essentially a Henry
Rifle with improvements invented and patented by Winchester shop Superintendent
Nelson King in 1866. The side loading gate, modified magazine and new walnut forearm eliminated the
primary defects in the Henry rifle and created the lever action rifle associated with the name “Winchester”. This carbine was manufactured in 1868 and features the desirable early production
barrel legend: “HENRY’S-PATENT-OCT. 16. 1860/KING’S-PATENT-MARCH 29. 1866”. Another early production feature is the serial number stamped on the left side of the lower tang under the stock. Along with the serial
number are the letters “CO.” The matching serial number also appears on the stock inlet and buttplate. The underside of the stock is stamped with the number “1.” The carbine features a blade front sight integral to the front
band, two leaf rear sight, saddle ring on the left side of the receiver, single upper tang screw, and trapdoor buttplate. Included
is a three piece cleaning rod in the butt. 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. It was one of the earliest and most widely used repeating rifles in the American West and saw use in conflicts over land, gold, and other resources on the frontier in the second half of the 19th century in the hands of settlers, Native Americans, outlaws, lawmen, and hunters. CONDITION: Very fine. The barrel and magazine retain 60% plus original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. 60% original nitre blue remains on the loading gate. 40% plus
of the original case colors remain on the hammer. The exceptionally fine brass has a highly attractive mellow appearance, and the side plates fit tightly. The loading gate retains 40% bright original nitre blue. The wood is fine with a few hairline stress cracks at the rear of the lower tang and some minor dings and scratches, mostly on the forend. Mechanically excellent. An above average condition Model 1866 saddle ring carbine with Henry’s Patent barrel legend that will be a welcomed addition to any Winchester or frontier collection.
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
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LOT 1036
Documented Antique Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action
Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 451219, 38 WCF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1893 as a Third Model, with a special order casehardened receiver with integral dust cover rail and dust
cover with serrated rear edges. The barrel is marked with the standard two-line Winchester address/King’s patent marking and the caliber designation at the
breech, model designation on the upper tang, serial number on the lower tang, and caliber designation repeated on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The left side
of the lower tang is marked “1038XX”, with “1038” repeated in the stock inlet and inside the toe of the buttplate. Fitted with Lyman beaded blade front, refinished elevation adjustable
buckhorn rear, and tang mounted vernier peep sights. It is mounted with a finely figured and “H” pattern checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with an ebony insert in the grip, sling swivels that
appear factory installed, and a trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included). The included factory letter lists the rifle in .38 caliber with an octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered pistol grip stock,
and casehardened when received at the warehouse on 29 May 1893 and shipped the same day. A return and repair date of 29 January 1898 is listed and is possibly when the sights and sling swivels
were installed.
CONDITION: Very good plus, retains 40% of the original blue finish, the balance having thinned to a mottled brown grey patina, and traces of the vibrant original case colors in sheltered areas with the balance
mostly a silver-grey patina, and traces of the original nitre blue on the loading gate. The wood is also very good with some minor dings and scratches scattered throughout and well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 4,500 - 7,500