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LOT 1044
Exceptional Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Saddle Ring Carbine with Desirable Henry Patent Barrel Marking - Serial no. 23418, 44 RF cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1869, 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. As a direct descendant of the Henry rifle, the Model 1866 traces its lineage back to earlier repeaters like the Volcanic, went on to see heavy use in conflicts related to 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; and is credited for ushering in the era of the repeating arm, making it one of the earliest and most widely used repeating rifles in the American West. Here is your chance to own an exceptional example of a Model 1866 saddle ring carbine with highly sought after Henry patent barrel marking! It is a third model with the more moderately curved receiver shape at the rear of the frame and the serial number stamped in block numerals behind the trigger. The butt compartment contains a three piece cleaning rod. The top of the barrel has the desirable early production two-line Henry’s patent/King’s patent legend marked ahead of the rear sight: “HENRY’S-PATENT-OCT. 16. 1860/KING’S-PATENT-MARCH 29. 1866”. Over 170,000 Model 1866s were manufactured, but these Winchesters were purchased as working firearms and saw hard use. Winchester Model 1866 rifles are rarely encountered in very good or better condition.
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