Bottom: The same rifle as shown above. Top: “The Gun that Won the West” – A near mint Winchester 1873. Let’s take a look at a few of their differences.
The rifle that came after the Winchester 1866 is the Winchester Model 1873.
Other changes are internal as are some of the barrel markings as the company transitioned from the New Haven Arms Company into Winchester Repeating Arms. This keeps dirt out of the magazine, protects the hollow metal tube magazine, and allows for better handling of the antique gun. It is the absence of this exposed follower that allows the Winchester 1866 to have a fully enclosed magazine and a wooden fore end under the barrel. The Henry must be loaded via the magazine tube near the muzzle and because of this has an external follower that must be manually depressed prior to loading. First, one will notice that the right side of the receiver possesses a loading gate, where the Henry rifle does not. However, inspecting the two side-by-side quickly reveals significant differences in both appearance and design. People often see the yellow “brass” receiver (which is actually a bronze alloy called “gun metal”) and may quickly jump to a conclusion depending on which model they’re more familiar with. Sold by RIAC in December 2016 for $86,250 Bottom: An excellent Winchester Model 1866 produced in 1868, still bearing the “Henry’s Patent” barrel legend. In the picture below is a Winchester 1866 with another rifle it is often confused with: the New Haven Arms Henry Rifle Top: An exceptional Henry rifle, produced in June 1865, near the end of its run. Identifying Winchester 1866 Antique GunsĬonfused what you have? Let’s narrow down what it’s not. 44 Henry RF, you have some investigating to do. 44 caliber cartridges available at the time. 44 Henry centerfire, and period conversions may have been performed to fire. A few late production Winchester 1866 rifles were configured to fire. However, one feature that can be found in nearly all Winchester 1866 models is the caliber.
The “standard” features of the antique guns are listed in their respective areas, most frequently covering barrel length, magazine length, and the stock. Most other features could be custom ordered (wood type, barrel length, shotgun butt, plating, engraving, etc). These often changed several times throughout the 1867 – 1898 production run. Variations from the factory are numerous and affected everything: front sights, rear sights, grooves in the rifling, end caps, markings, screws, side plates, loading gates, sling loops, buttplates, and so on. These antique guns may have differing variations from the factory, a period modification, or a modern change. Take it with a grain of salt and start investigating your specific rifle. Sold by RIAC in September 2016 for $483,000įirst of all, the Winchester 1866 and every model thereafter, came in all sorts of special order varieties, so if yours doesn’t fit an exact definition found here, that’s OK. German Silver Framed Winchester Model 1866, Once the Property of Exhibition Shooter Ira Paine.
WINCHESTER GUN HISTORY BY SERIAL NUMBER HOW TO
Let’s look at the Winchester Model 1866 and learn exactly how to identify one of the best antique guns on the market. This guide will help to identify the Winchester Model 1866 and provide insight about value if you decide it’s time to sell your gun. This is especially true for Winchester Model 1866 rifles, because they WERE the introduction! With a deep-rooted American heritage, this antique gun led an entire industry for nearly a century.
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