Description

The Winchester Model 1866, also known as the “Yellowboy,” was the first rifle to bear the Winchester name. Introduced in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, the Yellowboy rifle & carbine were popular guns in their time & helped establish the Winchester Repeating Arms Company as one of the preeminent gun manufacturers of the late 19th century.

The Yellowboy was the original cowboy rifle, making its way Westward along with hundreds of thousands of settlers who followed the transcontinental railroad to seek their fortune on the frontier. With approximately 170,100 Winchester Model 1866 rifles, carbines & muskets manufactured in total, the Yellowboy became the first lever action rifle & carbine design to see widespread use in every corner of the United States & beyond.

The Winchester 66 was nicknamed the “Yellowboy” because of its distinctive gunmetal frame, forend cap, side plates & buttplate. Gunmetal is a strong bronze alloy composed of copper, tin, zinc & sometimes a small amount of lead. Also known as “red brass,” gunmetal was rust-resistant and easy to machine.

The Winchester Model 1866 did not receive its official name in company catalogs until 1873, when the introduction of its famous successor required the two rifles to be differentiated. Before this, the Winchester Model 1866 was commonly referred to as the “Improved Henry,” “Winchester Repeating Rifle,” or the “Sixteen Shooter.”

In 1866, the New Haven Arms Company reorganized into Winchester Repeating Arms.  This “Improved Henry” design incorporated the same double toggle link action but included a more efficient cartridge loading system with a spring-steel loading gate on the right side of the receiver, a fully enclosed magazine tube & a wooden forearm under the barrel (great idea).

Now, you may be thinking this S/N isn’t correct as it’s missing digits plus the butt stock is wrong & you are right…sorta.

We believe this rifle to be what is referred to as 2nd variation & as can be seen in the photos, has had the stock replaced with one from a Model 1873 we think.

After taking the butt stock off we can see what appears to be a repair right on the neck, where the wood meets the frame, (see photos), indicating the stock was broken at some stage at the neck & replaced with a later stock (from a 1873 we think) after repairs to the frame which removed part of the S/N.

Winchester took inspiration from military carbines by including a ring & a staple fastened to the left side of the receiver near the hammer screw. This allowed the carbine to be secured to the saddle, earning it the nickname “saddle ring carbine”, as this example is.

The vast majority of 1866 rifles & carbines including this rifle were produced in .44 Henry Rimfire caliber only, a round with a 28 grain powder charge & a soft copper casing.

This example presents with no obvious sign of having been cleaned or refinished.

This is your chance to own an original Winchester lever gun which is around 150 years old & which is priced to sell!

You will know if this is for you so view the photos carefully & make your decision based on what you see as they form the main description & override all written information. Ask for more if desired.

In QLD this is can be owned without a firearms license but check with your local authorities to be sure.

We are selling on behalf of a collector so don’t hesitate if you think this is for you.

Whilst we check these out for serviceability, the warranty has expired & this is sold on an ‘as is’ basis.

As with all used guns, we recommend you have this checked by a suitably qualified person prior to shooting.

Call for shipping cost to your dealer.