Original Item: Only One Available. Every Schoolboys dream! A genuine M-1866 YELLOW BOY, the legendary Brass-framed first Winchester Saddle Ring Carbine. First introduced in 1866, having taken over the Henry Rifle Company, Oliver Winchester launched one of the iconic Firearm names in the history of THE OLD WEST.

This Yellow "Gunmetal"-Framed Beauty is in .44 centerfire with a 20" round barrel and full-length magazine tube. These were originally all made in .44 Henry Rimfire, however many Winchester 1866 rifles were later converted to fire .44 Henry Centerfire. These conversions were done both at the Winchester factory, and by gunsmiths using Winchester parts. There is unfortunately no way to tell where this conversion took place, but being made in 1872, this was definitely converted years after original manufacture. We tested a few different .44 center fire cartridges and based on the length of the round a .44 Russian is the best fit and cycled perfectly.

The carbine still features the original front sight, part of the front band, as well as the two leaf "tip up" back sight, which were very often replaced later with more modern sights. The serial number is 103743, denoting the year of manufacture as 1872, just onw year before the release of the Model of 1873. It is important to note that the model 1866 production continued throughout the 1870s and 1880s, as the model 1866 was cheaper, and remained popular. This meant that factory parts for other calibers were readily available. Model 1866 Winchesters between 25,000 – 149,000 are considered the "third model", which ended up being the most widely made model. The issues with the 1st and 2nd models had been ironed out, making this a very robust design.

This example has seen a lot of use, however the original barrel address markings are still partly legible in the light, something very rare to see on a model 1866!:-

The receiver also still has the original saddle ring attached on the left side, which is often missing. Stocks are in good condition, showing wear consistent with use on the frontier. The fore stock is now a dark red brown color, with some splitting near the front, and has had 4 brass tacks added to the bottom for a more secure grip. The butt stock is a bit lighter in color, with some scratches and other damage from age and use. The action has a beautiful patina on the "gunmetal" frame, which we have left intact. Barrel looks to have been cleaned and over the years, with small areas of light peppering. Features a brass "hook" butt plate, with a working storage compartment.

The rifle is in overall very nice condition, though there definitely has been oxidation damage to the steel components, with peppering visible on the saddle ring, trigger, operating lever, and hammer. The action cycles well, though it is definitely a a bit stiff, and can take a bit of effort with the operating lever. The bore shows clear rifling throughout, with a partly bright finish showing wear and oxidation. This is definitely a very good bore for an 1866 carbine, as many examples we have seen were completely dark and/or shot out.

A very nice example of an iconic gun. Only one of a fewthat we have ever offered for sale!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1872
Caliber: .44 Centerfire (.44 Russian fits and cycles well due to length of cartridge).
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 20 Inches
Overall Length: 39 Inches
Action type: Lever Action Repeater
Feed System: 13-round tube magazine

The first Winchester rifle – the Winchester Model 1866 – was originally chambered for the rimfire .44 Henry. Nicknamed the "Yellow Boy" because of its receiver of a bronze/brass alloy called gunmetal, it was famous for its rugged construction and lever-action "repeating rifle" mechanism that allowed the user to fire a number of shots before having to reload. Nelson King's improved patent remedied flaws in the Henry rifle by incorporating a loading gate on the side of the frame and integrating a round, sealed magazine which was partially covered by a forestock.

France purchased 6,000 Model 1866 rifles along with 4.5 million .44 Henry cartridges during the Franco-Prussian War. The Ottoman Empire purchased 45,000 Model 1866 rifles and 5,000 carbines in 1870 and 1871. These rifles were used in the 1877 Russo-Turkish War, causing much surprise when outnumbered Turks at the Siege of Plevna inflicted many times more casualties than their opponents armed with single-shot Krnka and Berdan rifles. The Model 1866 compelled Russians to develop a new rifle, the Mosin–Nagant, after the war.

The Swiss Army initially selected the Model 1866 to replace their existing single-shot Milbank-Amsler rifles. However, ensuing political pressure to adopt a domestic design resulted in the Vetterli Model 1867, a bolt-action design utilizing a copy of the Winchester's tubular magazine, being adopted instead.

Due to public demand, the Model 1866 continued to be manufactured and sold until 1899, mainly because they were less expensive than the later steel-framed centerfire models. Later models were chambered for the .44-40 Winchester cartridge.

NOTE: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are not able to ship to the United Kingdom. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

Note: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are not able to ship to the United Kingdom.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.