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Documented Deluxe Factory Engraved Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle with Silver-Plated Finish Featured in Winchester Engraving Book - Serial no. 19163, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue/silver- plated finish, walnut stock. This deluxe, factory engraved, Winchester Model 1866 lever action rifle was manufactured in 1867. This rifle has the Second Model receiver with flared front and single screw upper tang and features
the late style factory engraving typically found on Henry rifles but rarely encountered on Model 1866 rifles. This rifle is illustrated and described on page 41 of “Winchester Engraving” by R. L. Wilson. The rifle has a full octagon barrel and full-length magazine. The barrel has a steel, sporting style front sight and a Henry style folding leaf rear sight with 900 yard center notch and elevator bar stop screw. The Henry style brass crescent buttplate has a hinged trap. The butt trap contains a four-piece jointed steel cleaning rod with brass trip. The hammer has borderless, hand-cut, knurling on the spur. The forearm cap and stock have factory sling swivels. The barrel and magazine have a
charcoal blue finish and the loading gate is fire blue. The hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened. The brass forearm cap, receiver and buttplate are silver-plated. The stock and forearm are nicely figured, fancy grain walnut with a piano finish. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the early legend “HENRY’S PATENT-OCT. 16. 1860/KING’S-PATENT-MARCH 29. 1866” in two
lines ahead of the rear sight. The serial number is stamped on the lower tang between the trigger and the lever latch. The sides of the forearm cap, top
and sides of the receiver, upper tang and buttplate heel are decorated with factory engraving associated with Henry rifles. The engraving consists of large scrolls on a punch-dot background on the side plates, receiver top, upper tang, forearm cap and buttplate with large floral petals on the forward sections
of the frame. The scrollwork and floral petals on the frame are outlined with distinctive double line borders. The engraving is very high quality with delicate shading. The distinctive factory engraving on Henry rifles is attributed to Samuel J. Hoggson, the chief engraver for the New Haven Arms Company. The engraving on this rifle is almost certainly Hoggson’s work.