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Rare Nickel-Plated Winchester Model 1866 Musket

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Muskets Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
Rare Nickel-Plated Winchester Model 1866 Musket
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Rare Nickel-Plated Winchester Model 1866 Musket

This is a scarce nickel-plated example of a Winchester Model 1866 Musket that was manufactured in 1869. The musket has a full nickel-plated finish with straight grain American walnut stock and forearm. The musket has the distinctive features that include: 27 inch round barrel with 24 inch magazine, 17 inch forearm, three barrel bands, carbine style buttplate and sling swivels on the middle barrel band and stock. The early style sling loops are riveted to the upper barrel band and sling swivel. The musket has the Third Model receiver profile with flare at the junction with the forearm and serial numbers located on the lower tang behind the trigger. The barrel has a block mounted front sight that serves as the lug for a socket bayonet and a folding leaf rear sight with external retaining spring. The buttplate has a sliding brass trap door and the butt trap contains a four-piece jointed steel cleaning rod. The top of the barrel 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." in two lines between the lower barrel band and the rear sight. The serial number "34699 B" is stamped in block letters behind the trigger.

Manufacture: Winchester
Model: 1866
BBL: 27 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 RF
Finish: nickel
Grips:
Serial Number: 34699

Excellent. The musket retains 97% plus of the original nickel-plated finish. Finish wear is limited to some very minor flaking on the rear sight leaf, loading gate and tips of the upper and lower receiver tangs. There are a few scattered and very insignificant handling marks on the sides of the receiver. The barrel legend and serial number are extremely crisp. The stock and forearm are excellent overall. The forearm has some minor handling marks with several shallow storage marks on the upper left edge between the lower barrel band and the receiver. The stock has only a few very insignificant storage marks. This is an excellent example of a Winchester Third Model 1866 Musket with rarely encountered full nickel-plated finish.