Model 1866

Winchester First Model Inscribed 1866 SRC .44 RF s/n 13157 mfg 1866 - 20” round barrel; silver plated receiver & crescent buttplate; inscribed on left sideplate “ARMERIA AMERICANA / Wexel & Degress / MEXICO” and on right sideplate and frame is inscribed “Francisco Hidalgo P / 1867”. Wexel & Degress was a well-known arms dealer in Mexico City, and Francisco Hidalgo P was apparently the gun’s original owner in 1867. Traces of original silver plating remain on the receiver and buttplate; barrel and mag have turned plum patina; barrel address is clear and readable; walnut stocks are in excellent condition; bore has good rifling; all serial and assembly numbers match.

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.

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Winchester 1866 Second Model Henry-Marked Nimschke Engraved Rifle .44 Henry RF s/n 16114 mfg 1868 – 24” octagon barrel; full mag; beautiful and masterfully executed engraving appears to be the work of Louis D. Nimschke or his NY shop on the receiver, forend cap and buttplate with traces of old silver plating; correct early second model "pinched" forend cap sling swivel mount; correct early s/n location inside lower tang; 900 yard retaining screw folding leaf rear sight; sporting front sight; uncheckered 1x (or "extra finish") walnut stocks with correct factory-installed sling swivels. Barrel and magazine retain a high degree of original blue finish with a plum patina mixing in; stocks retain have been cleaned and retain an oil finish; receiver has sharp edges; action is crisp; bore is bright, shiny and retains good rifling and is considered an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10; s/n marking "16114" is correctly stamped on the left side of the lower tang under the stock, on the inside toe of the crescent buttplate, and on the stock's upper inletting channel.

Engraved Winchester 1866 Third Model SRC .44 Henry Flat s/n 36033 mfg 1870 - 20" round barrel; full mag; crescent buttplate; silver wash receiver is engraved with a Mexican eagle on left side and inscribed "Pedro G. Blanco" on the right side and is stamped "W. Y. DE G." on the right rear side for the legendary Mexico City gun dealer, Wexel & DeGress.

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Winchester 1866 SRC .44 RF  s/n 88473 mfg 1872 - Third model, Conrad Ulrich signed engraved, barrel even plum finish.

Winchester 1866 SRC .44 RF s/n 125980 mfg 1877 - Nimschke engraved in classic scroll motif on frame and buttplate with elk within panels on each side of frame. Original patina on frame and 80% original blue on barrel and tube with brown mixed in. Verified by George Madis as genuine Nimschke engraved.

Winchester 1866 Third Model Nimschke Engraved SRC .44 RF s/n 131377 mfg 1876 – 20” round barrel; full mag; full nickel-plated with case-hardened hammer; blued screws, trigger and pivoting rear sight carbine sight; straight grain oil-finished walnut stocks. Profusely engraved in distinctive Nimschke-style scroll and border motifs, with elk in foliage panel scene on left side of frame; running whitetail buck on right panel scene to match; engraved coverage on frame, carrier block, buttplate, forend band and barrel band. 95% original factory nickel overall; stocks show a few nicks and marks, primarily on buttstock, and retain a high degree of their original oil finish; action is crisp; bore is bright with sharp rifling and is considered a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10. Featured in R.L. Wilson’s Winchester Engraving book, page 61.