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Nice Early Winchester Model 1866 Rifle, Untouched Attic Find w/Henry Marked Barrel
Guns International #: 101323486 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Winchester Rifles - Antique Lever - Winchester Rifles - Model 1866
Seller's Information
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Seller: Brent Wilburn
Company: Antique Arms, Inc.
Member Since: 11/19/15
First Name: Brent
Last Name: Wilburn
State: Georgia
Zip: 30052
Country: United States
Phone: (678) 471-1432
Phone2: (678) 471-1432
Premium Seller
Number of Active Listings: 35
Total Number of Listings: 577
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Money Order, Certified Check
Description:
This is about as untouched example of an early production Model 1866 Winchester as you'll ever find. The dark patina on the brass is just incredible! This rifle was built in 1869 and was found in an old family home in California along with a Colt Single Action made in 1875. When the family decided to sell these two items, a friend agreed to shop it around for them....basically taking bids from every shop and collector he could find in my area. Not wanting to strike out or get "one-upped", I stepped up to the plate and took a hard swing at it and eventually got but only after they shopped it for another month trying to find someone to go higher. It wasn't cheap but then again, how often do chances to buy Henry marked Winchester 1866 Rifles in Attic Condition? This rifle is in the 24,000 range and it has the desirable Henry Barrel Address meaning it does not have the Winchester New Haven, CT Address. It simply reads, "HENRY'S PATENT -OCT. 16. 1860" "KING'S-PATENT-MARCH 29. 1866" This must have been one of the last ones out the door with the early barrel marking. The Winchester book by Madis says that a few of these Henry barrels lasted into the 23,000 serial range based on what he had seen 50 years ago. This one is about 1,000 numbers above his estimate in the 24,000 range and could very well could be the last 1866 rifle made with the early Henry Address. I currently also have a carbine in the 24,000 range about 300 numbers away from this rifle and it has the Winchester address. The barrel and magazine tube have a very heavy brown patina but the rifle did not see a lot of wear so the original blue simply oxidized to brown. If you look closely, there is still a lot of age-darkened blue in the patina. There is also a bit of original blue on the loading port but again, its mostly patina. The wood is incredible...the photos do not do it justice..pletely untouched with 85% of the original varnish intact which is still orange from likely having spent many years in a somewhat arid California climate. You can see every scratch, nick, rack mark, in the wood....nobody has ever touched this wood. You can even see where the original owner's hand wore through the varnish along the belly of the stock just in front of the frame from where he carried it. It still has its original sights including the early Henry style ladder rear sight. The sling swivels are the early style standard Winchester...these came on all 1866 Rifles. The front swivel is a little twisted but intact and still working. Note that the end cap screws into the magazine which is correct for most 1866's and early 1873's until around 1880-81. Buttplate has the trapdoor for the cleaning rods which are not present. The lever has the early small loop like the Henry Rifle and it has the early Hammer...very deeply checkered with no half cock notch the same as the Henry Rifle. The bore is bright and shiny with the early wide lands. This is just a great early 1866 rifle that "has the look" most advanced collectors are looking for! It is not a high condition example in the $20-30,000 range but the age and patina however make it far more interesting for half the price! In that sense, this is a piece of art!
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Winchester
Model: 1866
Caliber Info: .44 Rimfire
Barrel Type: Octagon
Sights: Standard
Manufacture Date: 1869