The famous Winchester lever action repeating rifle, known as "the gun that won the West", had its beginnings in the Volcanic Firearms Company and the later designs by Benjamin Tyler Henry. The brass framed Model 1866 gave way to the stronger steel framed Model 1873, allowing Winchester to move away from .44 rimfire and develop the powerful new .44-40 WCF round (Winchester’s first metallic centerfire cartridge), as well as a family of other new potent rounds, with Colt usually producing Single Action Army revolvers in the same calibers shortly after they were developed. The Model 1873 has an almost mythical status among firearms collectors, Old West enthusiasts, and fans of the Western film genre, even inspiring the 1950 movie "Winchester '73" starring Jimmy Stewart. The Winchester series of lever action rifles have been of great interest to collectors for decades, leading noted collector George Madis to write an authoritative reference book on the subject in 1961, printed for a third time in 1971. This Signed “The Winchester Book” George Madis Henry Rifle Model 1866 1873 1886 1892 1894 Reference Book is in Good Condition, with a small tear in each corner of the top and bottom spine, some scuffing to each corner of the front and back covers, some nicking and indenting to the lower left edges of pages 41-58, some nicking and indenting to the top right edges of pages 206-236, some scattered “foxing” to many of the pages, and with some overall age wear evident. Otherwise, the book is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it’s a Third Printing from 1971 that’s hand signed by the author, George Madis, on the upper left title page, reading “with the best wishes / of the author / George Madis”, boasts elegantly decorated brown leatherette hardcovers, and features 542 pages full of descriptive text and black and white photographs of a wide variety of Winchester shoulder arms, including beautifully engraved Henry rifles, factory engraved Model 1866s, all of the minute variations of the Winchester Model 1873, wonderful examples of special order longarms, a terrific section on the Model 1885 single shot rifles and Schuetzen rifles, a wealth of information on the Model 1886, 1892, 1894, 1895, and Winchester self-loaders, and correct details to look for in sights, stocks, markings, etc. A fine example of a rare, original Signed “The Winchester Book” George Madis Henry Rifle Model 1866 1873 1886 1892 1894 Reference Book.