2020 September Premier, Volume I

Extremely Early Production 1866 Rifle with Attractive, Highly Figured Walnut Stock
sold by our firm, Rock Island Auction Company, in December of 2015
as lot number 1013. The lowest known flatside rifle this writer could
find published is serial number 13821, also sold by our firm in May
2019 as lot 3010. Furthermore, of the twelve flatside 1866s (carbine or
rifle) we have sold, only two were rifles, all had a channeled loading
gates and saddle rings. Original examples of the First Model 1866
Winchester are rare and extremely desirable. This Winchester First
Model 1866 lever action rifle was manufactured at the beginning of
1867. This rifle has the rare first style “flatside” receiver with two upper
tang screws, Henry buttplate with hinged trap door and 24-inch,
non-tapered, octagon barrel. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with
the first style legend: “HENRY’S PATENT-OCT.16. 1860/ KING’S-PATENT-
MARCH 29. 1866” in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The barrel
has a dove-tail mounted iron front sight blade and Henry folding
leaf rear sight with 900 yard center notch, square end elevator bar
and elevator bar stop screw. The magazine has the first style, screw
fastened band. The distinctive, un-capped forearm is secured by
a single screw. The left side of the receiver is fitted with a staplefastened
saddle ring. The right side of the receiver has a loading gate
with indented cover. The hammer has borderless knurling. The butt
trap contains a four-piece, jointed, steel cleaning rod with brass tip.
The left side of the lower receiver tang is stamped with the serial
number and a small assembly number “1647”. The serial number is
also stamped in the upper tang inlet of the stock and on the inside
of the buttplate toe. All of the visible serial numbers match. The
barrel and magazine are blued, the hammer, lever and trigger are
casehardened, and the receiver and crescent buttplate have the
natural brass finish. The loading gate is niter blue. The original stock
and forearm are highly figured, deluxe quality burl walnut with a
varnished piano finish.
NOTICE THE SADDLE RING,
THIS FEATURE OCCURS MORE
OFTEN ON FIRST MODEL
RIFLES THAN WITH ANY OF
THE LATER 1866 RIFLES
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine overall. The barrel
has 60% of the original deep blue finish. The
magazine tube blue has slightly faded to a plumcolored
patina. The barrel legend is crisp. The
loading gate has 50% plus of the original nitre
blue finish. The hammer, lever and trigger retain
40% of the silvered case colors. The brass receiver
and buttplate are excellent with a very attractive,
untouched patina. The receiver side-plate joints
are nearly perfect. The receiver and buttplate
show only very insignificant handling wear. The
well-figured burl walnut stock and forearm remain
in exceptionally fine condition and retain 85%
of the original piano finish varnish with a few
scattered and very insignificant handling marks.
This is a truly exceptional and extremely rare First
Winchester Model 1866 “flatside” lever action rifle,
no doubt a “hole” in even the most
advanced collections.
Estimate: 60000 - 90000
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