Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1866, 3rd Model Saddle Ring Carbine

Serial Number: 27167

Year of Manufacture: 1869

Caliber: .44 Henry. Originally a rimfire, the firing pin bushing is missing and the bolt appears to have a centerfire firing pin installed.

Action Type: Lever Action with Full-Length Tubular Magazine

Markings: The barrel markings are nearly entirely worn away. The bottom tang and the inside of the buttplate at the toe are each marked "27167". The bottom of the lifter is marked "44 Cal.". The receiver, sideplates, buttplate, and lifter have decorative relief engraving with a buffalo on the lifter, an Indian on horseback scene on the left plate, an Indian looking over a wagon train from a rock scene on the right plate, and a deer drinking water on the storage compartment cover on the buttplate. The bottom of the receiver between the lifter and the lever is signed with the initials "F.E.W.", though the identity of the engraver remains unknown.

Barrel Length: 20” Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade integral to the front barrel band. The rear sight is a two-position folding sight presenting either a "V"-notch when down, or a "V"-notch aperture marked "3" with a "V"-notch at the top of the arm marked "5", dovetailed to the rear of the barrel.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a banded forend, straight grip, straight comb, and brass crescent buttplate with a trapdoor storage compartment (nothing in the compartment). The stocks have some light nicks, scuffs, and scratches, mostly in the belly. There are some open grain lines, mostly in the forend and most notable in the right of the forend where one reaches to the rear edge. The LOP measures 13 3/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has minor wear at the heel and toe. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good Plus Condition as Refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Brass

Finish Originality: The steel parts show signs of aggressive cleaning, but we don't see anything to indicate that a new finish was applied. The frame has been repaired and was likely polished prior to being engraved.

Bore Condition: The bore is dark. There is no visible rifling. There is erosion and pitting throughout the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 2 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This carbine retains about 25% of its metal finish, all in the brass parts. The firing pin bushing is missing from the bolt. The steel parts have mostly worn or been cleaned to white with fairly even light surface erosion and some areas of minor pitting. The receiver has been braze-repaired at both top-rear corners of the lifter channel. The engraving is over the repairs, indicating that it is non-factory engraving. There are some light nicks and scratches. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with questionably usable slots. The markings on the steel are mostly worn away. The markings on the brass are clear with good detail in the engraving. Overall, this carbine is in about Good Condition as Antique (see Mechanics).

Mechanics: Possibly due to the repair, the lifter has notable friction in its channel toward the top of travel. The lever has notable play when the action is closed. The firing pin bushing is missing from the bolt, and the firing pin appears to have been altered for use of centerfire cartridges. There is a lever lock on the lower tang. We have not fired this carbine. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

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 carbines were highly prized and heavily used in the early post-bellum Old West.

This Antique Winchester Model 1866 (3rd Model) .44 Henry RF/CF Saddle Ring Carbine was made in 1869 and is in Good Condition. The receiver, sideplates, buttplate, and lifter have beautiful after-market decorative relief engraving with a buffalo on the lifter, an Indian on horseback scene on the left plate, an Indian looking over a wagon train from a rock scene on the right plate, and a deer drinking water on the storage compartment cover on the buttplate. The bottom of the receiver between the lifter and the lever is signed with the initials "F.E.W.", though the identity of the engraver remains unknown. It features a 20” barrel, 25% of its original finish (all in the brass parts), elegantly refinished two-piece smooth walnut stocks, and a dark bore with erosion and pitting throughout. The receiver has been braze-repaired at the top-rear corners of the lifter channel, which may contribute to the lifter sticking at the top of the channel. It appears that the firing pin was modified for use with centerfire ammunition, though the firing pin bushing is missing from the bolt. The steel parts show wear and aggressive cleaning. The barrel markings are nearly entirely worn away. All told, with its exquisite panel scene custom engraving, this Winchester Model 1866 saddle ring carbine will still take a prized place in a collection.