Make: Winchester
Model: 1866 Musket
Serial Number: 32354B. The “B” suffix in the serial number denotes a design/production change by Winchester during the manufacturing process of the Model 1866.
Year of Manufacture: 1870
Caliber: .44 Henry Rimfire
Action Type: Lever Action with Tubular Magazine
Barrel Length: 27" Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a bladed post fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder sight whose base is dovetailed into the barrel, presenting a "V"-notch when folded down and with a "V"-notched slider on the ladder arm.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a straight grip, 17" forend with two barrel bands, sling swivel at the bottom of the front forend barrel band, another sling swivel inlet into the belly of the buttstock, brass carbine style buttplate, and trapdoor in the buttplate (there is nothing in the compartment). The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs, and scratches. There are a few more notable dings on the left of the buttstock in the wrist and below the comb. There are some spots of dark discoloration where the wood meets metal. The LOP measures 13 3/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has gone to a mustard patina with scattered spots of verdigris and dark discoloration. Overall, the stocks are in Good Plus condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue & Brass
Finish Originality: Original. The buttplate is not numbered and may be a replacement.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright, the rifling is sharp where not interrupted by erosion. There are scattered patches of erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This musket retains about 20% of its metal finish, mostly in the receiver. The receiver has gone to a mustard patina with some scattered spots of darker discoloration. The steel parts retain little of their blue finish, mostly having gone to a mottled patina. There is more notable erosion and scabbing toward the muzzle end and on the lever. There are scattered light nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are generally sharp or tool-marked with strong slots. The barrel band mounting screws are disfigured with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this musket rates in Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly and the hammer has a half-cock safety. We have not fired this musket. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Model 1866 rifle was the first firearm to be built 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 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 made up until the 1890s, but very few were produced after the M-1873 rifle was introduced with its improved centerfire cartridges. These Winchester “Yellow Boys” were highly prized and heavily used in the early post-bellum Old West, and many were rode hard and put away wet. Most Winchester collectors wouldn’t think their collection complete without at least all three configurations of the M-1866, while some would argue for every variation of the four different models.
This is a rare Winchester Model 1866 Musket with a 27" barrel and extended forend with barrel bands. The musket is in Good condition with a decent bore, strong mechanics, the original rimfire bolt, and wear consistent with the passage of nearly 155 years. The condition of this musket is sufficient such that we expect the high value collectors to be interested, especially with its rimfire bolt and rare musket configuration.
RIFLE