Model 1866 No. 14431

Winchester 1866 First Model SRC .44 Henry RF s/n 14431
mfg 1866 – 20” round Henry-marked barrel; full mag; correct first model half-inch dovetail carbine rear sight marked 100, 300, 500 yards; straight grain walnut stocks with and rifle buttplate; correct short segment 3-piece cleaning rod in butt. Receiver has old inscription “G. Ames.” Serial number “14431” is on left side of lower tang under the stock, inside the top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate; left side of lower tang has the assembly number "704"—all are correct and matching. Mechanics are all correct and working properly.

The First Model 1866 was originally promoted by Winchester in their marketing materials as the “Improved Henry” and is often referred to by today’s collectors as a “flatside” ‘66. From the receiver back through the buttplate, all parts are Henry with two major modifications. One is the addition of a saddle ring, and the second is a King’s Patent loading gate system which is integrated into right side of the receiver. Some first models have conical loading gates, while others have the earlier-type and more desirable flat shaped gate with retaining spring. The front section of first model 1866s are made of all new/improved parts designed by B. Tyler Henry and Oliver F. Winchester to reduce the bulkiness and weight of the Henry. Of the approximately 2,500 manufactured, only about 200 -300 have survived today as most saw extremely hard use on the American frontier in usually extreme adverse climatic conditions with little or no maintenance.