GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
FINE EARLY WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 SADDLE RING CARBINE. WINCHESTER 1866 CARBINE 23170 44 Cal. 44 RF Henry. Outstanding '66 carbine with 20" rnd bbl, full magazine, integral front band/front sight and early style 2 position flip rear sight. Left side of receiver has a staple and ring. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut, including straight stock and brass crescent buttplate with trap. Top tang channel of buttstock is marked with last 4 digits of matching SN which is also found inside toe of buttplate. These early '66 carbines are seldom encountered today and rarely in orig configuration with orig finish. The 1866 rifles & carbines have been touted as the "gun that won the west". No doubt this model had a very large effect on the settlement of the west. It was the successor to the venerable Model 1860 Henry rifle and saw widespread distribution throughout the United States and literally around the world. They remained popular in the U.S. well into the 1870's and 1880's until fully supplanted by center fire arms. After that they still remained popular in South and Central America and lesser developed countries around the world where they rarely received maintenance of any kind and are rarely found today with orig finish. CONDITION: Very fine plus, all matching as noted. Bbl & magazine tube retain strong blue in sheltered areas being mostly a plummy blue/brown patina showing very little wear. Magazine & forearm bands are matching patina. Receiver, side plates and buttplate retain sharp edges and show a wonderful dark carmel patina. Hammer shows faint mottled case colors on the sides and the lever a dark brown patina. Wood is sound with light nicks & scratches and retains virtually all of its orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp. Strong bore with good shine and light to moderate pitting. 51173-5 JRL (7,000-12,000)