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OUTSTANDING WINCHESTER 1866 SECOND MODEL LEVER

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:25,000.00 USD Estimated At:50,000.00 - 59,000.00 USD
OUTSTANDING WINCHESTER 1866 SECOND MODEL LEVER

ACTION RIFLE. Cal. 44 HRF. S# 21664. The Model 1866 is Winchester's most iconic lever action rifle & follower in the footsteps of the famous Henry Repeater. Bbl. 24" oct.. Top flat marked "HENRY'S PATENT - 08 OCT. 16, 1860 / KING'S - PATENT - MARCH 29, 1866". German silver blade front sight. Sporting leaf rear sight. Full length mag. Brass 2nd Model action w/ gracefully curved side profile in hammer area. Case colored hammer, trigger & lever. Loading gate is fire blued. S# is in block letters on lower tang followed by a lazy "L". Walnut forearm & straight grip stock. Inside top tang channel of stock marked w/ matching number "664". Left inside of lower tang marked w/ letter "V". Extremely rare proper style Model 1866 leather sling on original swivels, front swivel is mounted on brass forearm cap. Rear swivel is 2 screw inletted style. Brass trapdoor crescent buttplate. 1869 Mfg. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: 4 piece cleaning rod in stock. CONDITION: extra fine. Brass receiver glows w/ an exceptionally attractive untouched mild patina appearance. Forearm cap has an equally fine patina appearance. Sides of hammer retain exceptionally bright case colors. Hammer & lever retains traces of subdued case colors. Loading gate shows 70% fire blue. Bbl. & mag. tube retain an incredible 85% or more lightly faded original blue showing light edge wear w/ sm. spots of very light corrosion. Bore is generally bright w/ strong rifling showing sm. spots of very light pitting. Stock & forearm have original finish showing the expected scratches, marks & small dents. Left side of stock has a old age darkened hairline crack curving forward from the top tang. Buttplate shows evidence of light cleaning w/ spots of darker tarnish. Rear sight leaf exhibits some play on base. Original sling remains supple w/ dark oiled appearance having some re-stitching near the buckle. Early Model 1866's w/ such a high degree of original finish are seldom seen on the market today. (01-20157/DS). ANTIQUE. $50,000-59,000.