A Very Nice 1866 .44 Rimfire

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 4:31 pm

First, Its NOT mine.

I have known (and handled a few times) about this rifle for many years but only recently (today) was able to photograph it. Its present owner is an honorable person and I know his story to be true. His great grandfather won it in a raffle at the Iowa State Fair back in the 1890's and has been in the family ever since. Neither he (present owner) or his father can ever remember it being fired.

Its an 1866 Winchester saddle ring carbine made towards the end of production in 1886. It is factory full nickel plate with 1X, maybe 2X wood and chambered in the long obsolete 44 rimfire. It has seen little, if any use. The receiver still has about 99% nickel plate with the butt, barrel and mag. tube flaking a little. The mechanics are like new, smooth and solid. Its still 100% original.

Neat rifle.

--------------------Sixgun

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 4:34 pm

Awesome!!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 5:01 pm

That is neat, nice wood too.
You go ahead and buy it for me buddy for an early BD present.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 5:50 pm

That is wicked cool!!!

jb

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 6:48 pm

All I can say is WOW!

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:38 pm

You know, if that was mine, especially if it were a family heirloom, I'd just have to scrounge up some ammo and go shoot it. At least once.

That is a neat carbine.

LOL, I can just see Geronimo grinning as he took pot shots at the white eyes with it.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:54 pm

Man Sixgun, you need to post a drool warning before showing such a mighty-fine levergun!

Grizzly Adams · Post by **Grizzly Adams** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:13 pm

Absolutely stunning! A rare treat to see one in that kind of condition. Thanks for posting it!

Post by **Hobie** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:35 pm

Thanks for going to the trouble of sharing that Jack! Wow!

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:58 pm

WOW! "A Very Nice...", isn't quite descriptive enough... needed more warning than that!

spaceman spiff · Post by **spaceman spiff** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:09 pm

upper crust, for sure...

spaceman

ollogger · Post by **ollogger** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:14 pm

thanks for the eye candy, awesome!

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:09 pm

Rusty wrote: Awesome!!

I'll double second that.

pwl44m · Post by **pwl44m** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:22 pm

That makes Me wish My Grandpa was a Gun Nut. It is hard to imagine something looking that nice from so long ago.
Perry

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 6:51 am

Guys,
Yea, its a dream to have such a nice rifle like this......but a dream that can come true as this rifle has never been out of the family and eventually it will---but at a price that few of us can afford. I'm guessing about 20-30 g's.

A Colt expert wrote not too long ago that half of all presentation, engraved, and wooden boxed Colt percussion revolvers are still unaccounted for.----Better go look in grandma's attic. Along with that Colt might be a Henry or a fine '66 like this one. They are out there.

-----------Sixgun

the telegraphist · Post by **the telegraphist** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:14 am

Just superb, thanks for posting the pics.

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:23 am

Thanks sixgun, that is awesome.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:59 am

VERY NICE

JB · Post by JB » Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:30 am

I guess it would make a filler till a fellow could find a nicer one....

tman · Post by **tman** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 6:12 pm

Sweet rifle you got there! The .44 henry rimfire flat is one of my favorite cartridges. The 1858 Henry lever, the 1866 winchester and the 1860 colt drilled thru revolver all share this chambering. It fought in the civil war and tamed the old west. The original rifle/handgun combination. Way

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 6:28 pm

Wow! I haven't seen a photo of a nickel plated '66, and I like it. The silver framed jobs Winchester & Uberti made had so much engraving you can't judge how a plain, silver colored frame would look. Any one else ever wanted an aluminum framed '66? The bronze frames are a bit weighty for the mild cartridge they shoot.

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:13 pm

Sixgun wrote:Guys,

A Colt expert wrote not too long ago that half of all presentation, engraved, and wooden boxed Colt percussion revolvers are still unaccounted for.----Better go look in grandma's attic. Along with that Colt might be a Henry or a fine '66 like this one. They are out there. -----------Sixgun

Yes. i am surprised at the stuff i see in my customer's homes sometimes --- this one was in a very nice home in Reisterstown (? forget the exact spelling) Maryland just sitting on the mantle. I asked the elderly gent how long it had been there and he said "since he was a young man" -- it was passed down -- he had it appraised at one time he said, but his financial situation was good enough that he never entertained selling it
-- i kindly asked permission to snap a couple of pics and got to handle it, but out of respect for the man's heirloom, i didnt coon-finger it too hard

(posted pics to prove Sixgun's theory right about finding these treasures in the darndest places -- not to distract the thread or anything --- this poor guys grandkid's will get addicted to meth someday and sell it to PawnStars for 2 grand )
---

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:28 am

Streetstar,
Amazing! A Henry just hanging about! Thats how "old money" rich folks are, they have something and have no intentions of selling it and well, 'ya can't blame 'em. That Henry has probably been in the family since forever.

But like you said, the grandkids will just sell it and pee the money away. I've bought more than a few guns like that---been in the family for a million years and the younguns are more interested in good times. (the Bill Clinton generation)

Nice pics--thanks

------------Sixgun

Rube Burrows · Post by **Rube Burrows** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:42 am

That is pretty neat. I didnt realize that Winchester was still making the 66 in 1886. I had never really looked into it but figured they stopped with that rifle and that caliber way before then but see now that it looks like they made them all the way till 1898. Learn something new everyday.

Alphawolf45 · Post by **Alphawolf45** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:51 am

Son of a gun. I wasnt aware such a configuration had ever been built.I like that nickel plate worlds better than plain bronze gun metal receivers.

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:13 am

Sixgun wrote:Streetstar,
Amazing! A Henry just hanging about! Thats how "old money" rich folks are, they have something and have no intentions of selling it and well, 'ya can't blame 'em. That Henry has probably been in the family since forever.

But like you said, the grandkids will just sell it and pee the money away. I've bought more than a few guns like that---been in the family for a million years and the younguns are more interested in good times. (the Bill Clinton generation)

Nice pics--thanks ------------Sixgun

You nailed it about the new generation. I have found a few guns cheap from grandkids, as well as sons and daughters, whose ideas about money revolve around the latest gadgets. Old guns? Not at all important. Sad for them, good for me.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:40 pm

Streetstar,
I forgot to mention----that Henry is a martial one---big bucks, especially in the condition thats its in.

Mike,
Thats even more money for the grandkids. In addition to the meth, they can take a few trips to the islands!

------Sixgun

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:51 pm

Grizzly Adams wrote:Absolutely stunning! A rare treat to see one in that kind of condition. Thanks for posting it!

WOW + 1

Cimarron Red · Post by **Cimarron Red** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:54 pm

Hey, Jack,

As usual, you can find 'em! Beautiful 1866 with a great history!

CR

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:26 pm

Sixgun wrote:Streetstar,
I forgot to mention----that Henry is a martial one---big bucks, especially in the condition thats its in.

Mike,
Thats even more money for the grandkids. In addition to the meth, they can take a few trips to the islands! ------Sixgun

How can you tell? Is it the sling mounts on the buttstock? I have seen Henry's list for large dollars at auction sites, but i personally prefer the 1866's with the wood forearms ---
Now i feel a little silly for not photographing the muzzle loader he had on the opposite mantle (2 fireplaces, 1 living room --

) - it might have been an original Harper's Ferry for all i knew

but sadly, i was there for business and had to maintain some semblance of composure and only had a limited amount of time for the appointment.
If i ever engage in conversation with anyone about firearms, old trucks, jeeps, airplanes, or politics --- i stay an extra 45 minutes at each house and my day ends 2 hours too late

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:18 pm

Streetstar,
Yes, the sling mounts look to be original as commercial ones did not have them. (for the most part) Assuming that Henry is in original & decent condition, I'd have to say that its worth 30-40 g's, considerably more if there's any provenance with it.

Harpers Ferry? No big deal. It would take 20 of them to match a Henry.

---------Sixgun

James Riley1 · Post by **James Riley1** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 6:39 pm

Sixgun wrote:First, Its NOT mine. I have known (and handled a few times) about this rifle for many years but only recently (today) was able to photograph it. Its present owner is an honorable person and I know his story to be true. His great grandfather won it in a raffle at the Iowa State Fair back in the 1890's and has been in the family ever since. Neither he (present owner) or his father can ever remember it being fired.

Its an 1866 Winchester saddle ring carbine made towards the end of production in 1886. It is factory full nickel plate with 1X, maybe 2X wood and chambered in the long obsolete 44 rimfire. It has seen little, if any use. The receiver still has about 99% nickel plate with the butt, barrel and mag. tube flaking a little. The mechanics are like new, smooth and solid. Its still 100% original.

Neat rifle. --------------------Sixgun

Hello Sixgun: I have an identical weapon, though not in as pristine a condition. I have found three others out there and they are all within a few serial numbers of mine. Mine is 164,525, made in 1883 and shipped from warehouse 1898. It was given as a birthday present from a father to a son. That son then gave it to a childhood friend and I got it from him. I don't know if it is true, but it is my understanding these were mostly made for Indians (the U.S. gave, sold and traded them to Indian Scouts, etc. and nickel was preferred because Indians were thought to be hard on guns). Many sat in the warehouse for long periods like mine, because they were already outdated by the time they were made. They actually became the preferred "boys" gun, much like our b.b. gun is today, and that is what happened with mine.

I've seen 164,533, 164,512, and one other in the Cody Museum (pristine). They were all within a few numbers of mine. Anyway, I was wondering if the one you post about was in the ball park of mine. I understand if you don't want to provide the exact number, I'm just curious. I think it would be cool to get them back together again if you could find a consecutive pair.

James Riley1 · Post by **James Riley1** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 5:30 pm

I just returned from Cody at that gun is 164,554.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 6:46 pm

Thanks for that tidbit JamesRiley1. Grand first post.

and Welcome to the Forum. Don't know how your earlier post got passed by so quickly and apparently... completely. Got pics?

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:53 pm

It is a shame that the gun hasn't been used much; always seems silly to me to have 'safe queens' that are marvels of craftsmanship and they never get used for what they were intended for.

That said, it IS a nice firearm.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:06 pm

Thank you for posting Sixgun......that is a wonderful little rifle.

James Riley1 · Post by **James Riley1** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:18 pm

Hi, Griff: Here are some pics. Like I said, mine is rough. http://s640.photobucket.com/user/Recon_ ... t=3&page=1

Here is what some knowledgeable guys say about it: http://www.winchestercollector.org/foru ... light=1866 Not rave reviews but honest.

AJMD429: I have not found much in the way of .44 Henry Rim Fire around. Otherwise, I might shoot mine. The bore is good and the action is perfect.

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 11:55 pm

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:05 am

Sixgun,
Just WOW! Man you sure do live in a Winchester and Colt rich environment. Even when they aren't yours, it's cool to get to see and handle stuff like that.

James Riley1,
Welcome to the fire. You certainly seem to have the levergun category covered nicely. Very nice carbine sir.

Gaucho Gringo · Post by **Gaucho Gringo** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 8:13 pm

Not to hijack this thread of a very nice rifle but can someone explain why the 66 didn't have removable sideplates and the 723 did? OP, your friend who owns this rifle is one lucky man.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 8:37 pm

Gaucho Gringo wrote:Not to hijack this thread of a very nice rifle but can someone explain why the 66 didn't have removable sideplates and the 723 did? OP, your friend who owns this rifle is one lucky man.

It does. They slide either up or down, like the Henry... which is why it's also known as the "Improved Henry".

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 6:16 pm

This is an old thread. I was told the owner of this 66 traded it even up for a 44-40 Uberti!!

No, no...I made sure this guy knows what he has and yes, I ran into him about a month ago and he is taking my advice and will hold on to it. He is fairly well off anyway so the bucks are not needed.

Mr. Riley, I was the one who sent away for the factory letter but I'll be danged if I can remember the number. I gave the guy all of the info but what I do remember was that it sat in the warehouse for quite some time before it was sold. The wood was better than standard. I would put it at a single X.

How was the Vegas show? Score anything?--------Sixgun

Grizzly Adams · Post by **Grizzly Adams** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 10:40 pm

Gaucho Gringo wrote:Not to hijack this thread of a very nice rifle but can someone explain why the 66 didn't have removable sideplates and the 723 did? OP, your friend who owns this rifle is one lucky man.

The 1866 had removable side plates. They are dovetailed flush into the frame rather than on the surface of the frame as is the 1873.