GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
LATE WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 SADDLE RING CARBINE. WINCHESTER 1866 165915 44 RF HENRY Cal. 44 RF Henry. Standard grade carbine with 20" rnd bbl, full magazine, square based front sight, 1873 marked carbine ladder rear sight. Top of bbl between receiver and rear sight is marked “44 R.F.”. Receiver has staple & saddle ring in left side. Mounted with uncheckered, nicely figured American walnut with straight stock & steel carbine buttplate with trap. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with assembly number "8", which number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. The Cody Firearms Museum records will identify this firearm as a carbine, received in warehouse Aug 26, 1887 and shipped Nov 10, 1887 on Order No. 834. This carbine was produced well after the introduction and acceptance by the public of the Model 1873 "the gun that won the West" which was in the more desirable center fire cartridge and the rim fire cartridge was of waning popularity. Most of these late production 1866 rifles and carbines were sold into Mexico and South America where the rim fire cartridge was still popular. Most of them saw very hard service under adverse conditions and are almost never found today with any orig finish. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Phil A. Bleakney, Jr. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain about 80-85% orig blue with some thinning and blending with brown patina and usual minor nicks & scrapes. Receiver has nice sharp edges, with the usual nicks, dings & scratches and retains a fine medium mustard patina. Hammer shows traces of orig case colors but is mostly a gray patina. Lever shows traces of orig color in protected areas but is mostly a gray patina mixed with some brown patina spotting. Wood is sound with typical nicks & dings, a minor gouge on lower right side, but retains a nice restored open grain oil finish. Buttplate shows orig case colors on tang and traces across the remainder mixing with silver and brown patina. Mechanics are crisp, bore has strong rifling with some shallow scattered pitting. 49059-11 JR (12,500-17,500)