Make: Winchester

Model: 1866 Rifle

Serial Number: 127516

Year of Manufacture: 1875

Caliber: .44 Henry Rimfire

Action Type: Lever Action Fixed Box Magazine

Barrel Length: 24", Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a steel blade in a slotted base dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel presenting a fine V-notch when folded down with a V-notch slider on the ladder and a V-notch at the top of the ladder.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and brass crescent buttplate with trapdoor storage compartment. There is a sling plate inlaid to the belly with swivel and a sling swivel mounted to the forend cap. The top tang inlet and the inside of the buttplate are each stamped "7516". The stocks have some scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There is a small loss at the bottom-front edge of the wrist on the left. There are thin cracks to each side of the top tang at the rear. The LOP measures 13 1/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly gone to a mustard patina with some scattered darker discoloration. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue and Brass

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered light erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6+/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most of the balance is in evenly scattered spots of light oxidation on the steel surfaces. There is some light wear on the barrel over the forend. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The receiver has gone to a fairly light, uniform mustard patina with slightly darker color around the hammer slot. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in Very Good-Fine condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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: This rifle comes with a Cody Firearms Records Office search, a reproduction three-piece cleaning rod and a hand-written letter from a previous owner detailing the rifle's history.

Our Assessment: The Model 1866 was the first rifle to be built by Winchester Arms after they changed their name from New Haven Arms Co. in 1866. It was a much-improved version of the Henry with a loading port on the receiver and a solid magazine tube much stronger than the slotted tube of the Henry. The loading gate precluded the need for an external follower, allowing a walnut forend to be installed, preventing the user from burning their hands during extensive firing. All of the 1866 variants were chambered in .44 Henry Rimfire, with some of the later 4th Models chambered in .44 Henry Centerfire and some converted to Centerfire later.

This is a quite nice example which not only retains the majority of its original finish, but is in quite nice mechanical condition, showing significantly less wear on the firing pins and almost no erosion on the bolt-face, lots of fire-blue remaining on the loading gate, good screws and pins. Especially given its age, it is a quality specimen. The included letter from a previous owner attributes the rifle to a Capt. Sam Trayer of the Lehigh Valley Coal Co. Police in Pennsylvania. He is supposed to have taken the rifle from a murderer and kept it in the company armory until 1950 when he retired and sold the rifle. We have not been able to independently confirm this, but staying in an armory for 70-some years would explain the rifle's high condition today. Please see our photos and good luck!