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LOT 1025
Outstanding Documented Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 158582, 44 RF cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue finish. The legendary Model 1866 was essentially a Henry Rifle with improvements invented and patented by Winchester shop Superintendent Nelson King in 1866. 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 rifle that will be difficult to improve upon! The accompanying factory letter confirms the rifle configuration with a round barrel and states the rifle was received in the warehouse on July 7, 1882 and shipped the next day on order number 33323. This is a fourth model featuring an iron buttplate instead of brass, a serial number stamped in script, and an even less pronounced drop at the top rear of the frame as compared to proceeding models. This fourth models are found starting in the 149000 serial number range until the end of production c. 1898. The 24 inch round barrel is fitted with dovetail German silver blade front sight and an adjustable buckhorn rear sight with serrated edges.
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