GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
RARE SPECIAL ORDER WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.WINCHESTER186612963844 RF HENRYCal. 44 RFHenry. Special order ''66 with rare 28" heavier than standard oct bbl, full magazine, half nickel front sight, 99 yard Henry ladder rear sight & Vernier tang sight with 3" staff. Receiver, side plates, forend cap & buttplate are silver finished. Mounted with uncheckered, slab sawed replacement American walnut with straight stock and crescent brass buttplate with trap. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with an "S" & "1965". Top tang channel of buttstock is stamped with last 3 digits of matching SN "638" which number is also found inside toe of buttplate. Buttplate appears to be orig equipment. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle with 28" bbl received in warehouse Jan 27, 1876 and shipped next day to order #2690 with 51 other arms. Firearms of that era usually saw very hard service on the American frontier and are rarely found today with any orig finish. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Phil A. Bleakney, Jr. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl, magazine tube and wood are modern replacements, probably by Ron Kudrik. Bbl & magazine tube retain about all of their fine, custom brown finish. Receiver, forend cap & buttplate retain about all of their strong, custom silver finish that is oxidized to black. Wood is sound with one or two very minor handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains most of its fine, custom oil finish. Mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore, appears to be unfired. 49059-9 JR (5,000-10,000)