»Home » 1870-1898 » Rifles-Shotguns » #4609 Winchester 1866 RBFMCB rifle, 44RF, 152XXX range (1882), late Fourth Variation

#4609 Winchester 1866 RBFMCB rifle, 44RF, 152XXX range (1882), late Fourth Variation having the iron forearm cap and butt plate, Winchester address, and other later 1873 type features. As with many of the rifles in the 152000 range (when Winchester had a shortage of rifle frames and an overstock of carbine frames), this has the saddle ring carbine frame. But unlike most in this range in which the ring stud holes were plugged, this rifle still has the saddle ring! The factory letter indicates it was a carbine changed to round barrel rifle. (Letter is coming and will be included with purchase). The wood is VG/VG+ with just drying cracks, light bumps, bruises, and the usual scratches of a 130 year life...BUT it has a very well done (but visible) repair to a line crack through at the wrist. It fits tight and flush with the metal, however, and except for the well done repair, it is well above average wood for a '66. The butt stock is the low-comb ’66 style (many late 1866s seem to have this Model 1873 low-comb style butt stock, especially those made as late as the 1880s). Mechanically it is working very well and has a typical dark dirty bore with scale and darkening in the grooves and dimly visible rifling. There is also a spider (possibly a live one) making its residence in this seemingly comfortable place. And, being a very late Model 1866, it also does have the later style rear semi-buckhorn rear barrel sight mounted farther forward as seen on the Model 1873s of this vintage, but does still have the half-moon screwed in style lever latch (both correct features). The brass frame has the usual minor bumps and dings of age, but one side plate is a distinctly different patina and while not done recently, my bet is that it was replaced long ago (as it has a deep aged patina). There’s even some good traces of what looks to be original dull blue on the barrel mixed with scattered pitting and surface rust and grime. For the collector who doesn’t want to sell his lovely teenaged daughter into the white slavery trade in order to get a decent “Yellow-Boy” 1866, this gun will probably be one of the few halfway decent ’66 rifles found in under the ten-thousand dollar range. There are a LOT of pictures of this neat old Winchester, so if they all do not load up, be sure to e-mail me and I’ll forward them along to you. $5295

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