Page 36 - Auction84-Book2
P. 36

 28”
      LOT 1030
Desirable Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle with Very Scarce Special Order 28 Inch Barrel - Serial no. 118029, 44 RF cal., 28 inch octagon bbl., blue finish,
walnut stock. Manufactured in 1873. The rifle has a special order 28 inch octagon barrel,
as standard length was 24 inches. Special order length barrels on Model 1866 rifles are rare. In the article
“Survey of Available Winchester Model 1866 Records,” William L. Porter evaluated only 50 known Model 1866s
with a 28 inch barrel. Blade front and folding ladder rear sights on a barrel stamped with the two-line Winchester address/ King’s improvement patent dates legend. The receiver,
forend cap and buttplate are brass. The straight grip
stock is fitted with a trapdoor buttplate (cleaning rod
not included). The Model 1866 or “improved Henry” 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. ‘66s were famously used by
multiple Native American warriors during the Battle of Little Bighorn, and many commentators, both
now and in the period, including Montana pioneer Granville Stuart, have questioned how that battle’s
outcome would have differed if the U.S. soldiers were also armed with repeating firearms. Interestingly, the
Model 1866 was in fact among the first repeating firearms used by militaries, but it was Native Americans
warriors and French and Ottoman soldiers that used them on the battlefield. It is the direct descendant of the
Henry rifle and traces its lineage back to earlier repeaters like the Volcanics.
CONDITION: Very good plus. Traces of original blue finish remain in the protected areas, otherwise the barrel and magazine have a smooth dark brown patina. The receiver, forend cap, and buttplate are all fine and have an attractive even aged patina. The receiver has tight fitting side plates. The wood is very good with a couple divots and minor dings and scratches. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
    34
LOT 1031
Exceptional Winchester Model 1876 Lever Action Rifle - Serial no. 55584, 40-60 WCF cal., 28 inch octagon bbl., blue finish. Manufactured in 1885 as a
Third Model with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrations at the rear. The rifle has a combination Beach front sight and a folding ladder rear
sight marked “1876.” The top barrel flat is stamped with the two-line address/patent dates marking ahead of the rear sight and “CAL. 40-60” at the breech. The cartridge elevator is marked “40-60.” The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1876.” Mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock. The buttstock is fitted with a trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included).
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 85% plus bright original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance.40% original niter blue remains on the loading gate. Patterns of original case colors remain on the hammer and lever. The upper tang screw is absent with the tang bent slightly downward. The wood is fine with a slight chip at the upper tang and some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
        




































































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