Winchester Model 1866 3d Model Saddle Ring Carbine 20″ Lever Action Rifle, SRC ’66, MFD 1870, Antique

SOLD FOR: $4,025.00
LSB#: 
190118KE12

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms Co.

Model: 1866 Saddle Ring Carbine 3rd Model

Serial Number: 45735

Year of Manufacture: 1870

Caliber: .44 Henry Rimfire

Action Type: Lever Action with Tubular Magazine.

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “WINCHESTER’S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT / KING’S IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED- MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860”. The lower tang is marked “45735” and “J”. We cannot make out any serial markings on the upper tang inlet or the buttplate.

Barrel Length: The round barrel is 20” in length and has a full-length magazine tube.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade in a notched base dovetailed to the barrel just behind the front barrel band. The rear sight is a “V”-notch dovetailed to the rear of the barrel.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut. The buttstock has a straight grip and a steel carbine-type buttplate with a sliding door for storage of cleaning equipment in the buttstock. The forend is held with single steel barrel band. The forend has moderate handling wear with scattered compressions, drag lines, nicks and dings. There is a short crack at the bottom-front and at the rear of the barrel band on the top-right. The bottom at the receiver has an area which has been sanded forming a slight divot. The buttstock has similar if not heavier wear, with scattered compressions, drag lines, nicks and dings. There are two more notable gouges and a bruise on the left of the buttstock and a small chip loss to each side of the top tang at the front. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows wear at the heel and toe with the other surfaces having a dark patina with scattered nicks and dings. The buttplate is in about Good-Very Good condition, and the stocks rate in about Good overall condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: The barrel, magazine tube and loading gate appear to have been originally blued. The lever and hammer are case colored and the frame is brass.

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is dark with well defined rifling. There is light-moderate erosion scattered throughout the bore with a few rings or darker erosion about mid-way in the bore.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 5% of its metal finish. The barrel and magazine tube have a moderate-dark patina with scattered nicks and dings, light surface erosion, heavier at the muzzle, infrequent spots of solid erosion and wear at edge, corners and near the markings. The receiver has a mustard patina with many light impact marks on the sides around screws and pins and a few in the top and bottom. The right sideplate is slightly proud to the receiver at the bottom-rear corner. The lever has a thick, dark patina with scattered solid erosion. The screw heads are generally moderately tool marked or disfigured with useable slots, the buttplate screw heads are almost sharp. The markings are shallow, especially the barrel markings, and the last number of the serial number is quite shallow, nearly concealed by an impact mark. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: There is a thumbscrew in the lower tang for locking the lever closed and a saddle ring on the left rear side of the receiver.

Our Assessment: The Model 1866 rifle was the first firearm to be built by the new Winchester Arms after they changed their name from the New Haven Arms Company in 1866. The Model 1866 was a much-improved version of the Henry rifle, with a loading port on the right side of the receiver featuring a spring-loaded cover, through which cartridges could be fed into a new solid magazine tube that was much stronger than the slotted tube used on the Henry. The M1866 was made in rifle, carbine and musket versions and in four different models dependent on date of manufacture. All of the different models were chambered in .44 Henry Rimfire, with some of the later 4th Models chambered in .44 Henry Centerfire. This rifle is a Model 1866 Saddle Ring Carbine 3rd Model that still has its unaltered rimfire bolt. It has a 20” barrel with full length magazine and a brass receiver. The rifle is in about Good condition. All of the 1866 models are very collectable due to their age and the relatively short time period over which they were made: the M1866 was made up until the 1890’s, but very few were made after the 1873 rifle was introduced with its improved center fire cartridges. Most Winchester collectors would never think that their collection was complete without at least all three variations of the M1866, while some would argue for all of the variations of the four different models.

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This Antique rifle can be transferred/sold in California.

Winchester Model 1866 3d Model Saddle Ring Carbine 20" Lever Action Rifle, SRC '66, MFD 1870, Antique
Winchester Model 1866 3d Model Saddle Ring Carbine
20″ Lever Action Rifle, SRC ’66, MFD 1870, Antique