Make: Winchester

Model: 1866 Rifle, 3rd Model

Serial Number: 20324

Year of Manufacture: 1869

Caliber: .44 Henry Rimfire

Action Type: Lever Action with Tubular Magazine

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “HENRY'S PATENT OCT. 16. 1860 / KING’S-PATENT-MARCH 29.1866.”. The lower tang is marked “20324” and "A". The upper tang inlet has "234" stamped and the inside of the buttplate is marked "234" on the reinforcement webbing at the toe.

Barrel Length: 24”, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel at the front. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight, presenting a "V"-notch when folded down, and with a "V"-notched slider on the ladder which is graduated from 200 to 800 yards with a small "V"-notch at the top of the ladder. The detent spring is missing and the ladder moves freely.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a brass capped forend, straight comb, straight grip, and brass crescent buttplate with a sliding door over a storage compartment (there is a four-piece cleaning rod in the compartment). There is a sling plate with swivel mounted in the belly, but no forward sling mounting point. There is a splice repair in the front of the comb. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs, and scratches. There are a few tiny losses around the edges. The LOP measures 13 1/2" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has mostly gone to a mustard patina with scattered light nicks and scratches. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good Plus Condition as refinished and repaired Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Brass

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is even, light erosion through the bore with some scattered pitting. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 30% of its metal finish. The barrel and magazine have mostly gone to a light to moderate patina with a little blue finish in well protected areas. The receiver has gone to a uniform mustard patina with areas showing the crystalline appearance of old brass. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs, and scratches with odd scratching on the sides of the barrel over the forend. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in Very Good Condition as Antique.

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

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a four-piece cleaning rod stored in the buttstock; one piece has a brass rammer-end, another has a slotted-end for a patch.

Our Assessment: The Model 1866 was the first firearm introduced by the new Winchester Repeating Arms Company 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 loading gate precluded the need for an external follower, allowing for a walnut forend to be installed which prevented the user from burning their hands during extensive firing. The M-1866 was made in rifle, carbine, and musket configurations 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 and some pieces converted to Centerfire later. All Winchester Model 1866s are collectible due to their age, and the relatively short time period over which they were made. The M-1866 was produced up until the 1890s, but very few were manufactured after the M-1873 rifle was introduced with its improved centerfire cartridges. These Winchester “Yellow Boy” lever action rifles were highly prized and heavily used in the early post-bellum Old West.

This Antique Winchester Model 1866 (3rd Model) .44 Henry RF Rifle was made in 1869 and is in Very Good Condition. It features a 24” octagonal barrel, 30% of its original blue and brass finish, refinished and repaired two-piece smooth walnut stocks (there’s a notable splice repair in the front of the comb), the original sights (though the detent spring is missing from the rear sight, and the ladder moves freely), clear markings, strong mechanics, and a gray bore with well defined rifling, light erosion, and scattered pitting. This is a fine example of the classic Winchester Model 1866 Rifle.