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Fine Winchester Third Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Fine Winchester Third Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle
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Estimate: $6000 - 9000
This Winchester Third Model 1866 rifle was manufactured in 1872. The rifle has a blue, full octagon, barrel and full length magazine, brass receiver and crescent buttplate, casehardened hammer, lever, oil-finished walnut stock and forearm. The barrel has a dovetail mounted front sight with nickel-silver blade and a dovetail mounted, Henry style, folding leaf, rear sight. The rear sight has a 900-yard center notch and a elevator bar retaining screw. A folding Vernier mid-range rear sight with 2 3/4-inch shaft and eye cup is mounted on the receiver tang. Non-factory replacement sling swivels are mounted on the forearm cap and stock. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." ahead of the rear sight. The serial number, "98272" is stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger. The letters "H" and "S" are stamped behind the serial number and "&" is stamped between the lower tang screws. The rifle is complete with the original four-piece, jointed steel, cleaning rod.
BBL: 24 inch octagonal
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 RF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 98272
Condition: Very good plus. The barrel and magazine retain traces of the original blue finish; the balance is a very crisp plum brown patina. The barrel surfaces are smooth and the barrel edges are sharp. The barrel legend is crisp. The folding leaf rear sight is in very good condition. The brass forearm cap receiver and buttplate have an attractive patina and both are in fine condition. The receiver sideplate joints are tight; wear is limited to some very minor handling marks. Traces of niter blue finish are visible on the loading gate.The stock and forearm both remain in very good condition. Most of the original oil finish is intact and the wood shows only minor handling wear. The only significant wear is a hair-line. 1 1/2-inch crack in the heel of the stock at the buttplate. The Vernier rear sight is in very good condition and retains about half of the original blue finish. Two additional holes have been drilled in the steel eyecup. This a fine, original example of a Third Model Winchester 1866 rifle.