Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good example of the legendary Winchester Model 1866 Yellow Boy saddle ring carbine, serial number 113277, manufactured in 1873. Built on Winchester's distinctive bronze or "gunmetal" frame and fitted with a 20" round barrel, full length magazine tube, original style saddle ring, and desirable early sights, this Third Model carbine has the unmistakable lines of the first firearm to bear the Winchester name. Originally manufactured for the .44 Henry rimfire cartridge, this example was subsequently altered to centerfire while retaining its original rimfire strikers, giving it an especially interesting service modification. Its strong barrel address, very good bore, attractive untouched brass patina, and well worn frontier appearance make this an excellent representative of one of the defining repeating carbines of the Old West.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The Winchester Model 1866 was the direct successor to the Henry rifle and the first repeating firearm to carry the Winchester name. Often called the "Improved Henry," it retained the Henry's basic toggle link action and .44 Henry rimfire cartridge while incorporating Nelson King's patented side loading gate and a closed magazine tube protected by a wooden fore stock. These improvements made the rifle easier to load and considerably more practical for field use.

The distinctive bronze alloy receiver gave the Model 1866 its enduring "Yellow Boy" nickname. Its smooth lever action, comparatively high magazine capacity, and compact carbine configuration made it popular with hunters, settlers, lawmen, and armed forces around the world. The design remained in production even after introduction of the stronger steel framed Model 1873, giving Winchester customers a less expensive and already proven repeating arm.

This example is a Third Model Model 1866 saddle ring carbine. Collector research generally places Third Model production in the approximate serial range of 25,000 through 149,000, making serial number 113277 comfortably within that variation. The Third Model was by far the most numerous version and incorporated the mature form of the 1866 design after the transitional features of the earliest production had largely disappeared.

The carbine is fitted with the standard 20" round barrel and full length tubular magazine appropriate to the saddle ring configuration. Winchester Model 1866 carbines were originally chambered for the .44 Henry rimfire cartridge.

This particular example has subsequently been converted to .44 centerfire. The original rimfire striker projections remain visible on either side of the breech block and move together with the added centerfire firing pin. This arrangement may have been intended to retain the ability to use both rimfire and centerfire cartridges of the same basic dimensions, although we have no documentation establishing exactly when, where, or by whom the modification was performed.

Period centerfire conversions of Model 1866 rifles and carbines are well known. Some were altered by Winchester, while others were converted by gunsmiths after leaving the factory. Without factory documentation or a distinctive conversion configuration that can be positively attributed, we cannot determine whether this particular alteration was performed by Winchester or by an outside gunsmith.

The serial number is:

113277

This serial number places the carbine in 1873 production, the same year Winchester introduced the new Model 1873. The continued production of the Model 1866 alongside its successor illustrates how successful and well established the earlier design remained.

The top of the barrel retains its original Winchester address and patent marking, which remains unusually legible for a Model 1866 showing this degree of service:

WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT.
KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860.

The marking shows only light wear and remains readily visible in the proper light, an important collector feature on a carbine whose exterior otherwise shows considerable honest use. The original front sight remains present as part of the forward barrel band. The rear sight is the desirable two leaf "tip up" type. These early sights were often replaced during the long working lives of Model 1866 carbines, making their survival particularly appealing.

The metalwork is in very good service used condition. The barrel has lost its original blued finish and now displays a mottled gray and brown oxidized patina with scattered light peppering. The magazine tube shows a similar aged finish. The hammer and operating lever are somewhat darker and also show areas of old peppered oxidation.

The bronze "gunmetal" receiver has developed a particularly attractive mellow patina with no obvious signs of major damage or aggressive restoration. The natural color and surface wear give the carbine the unmistakable appearance associated with a genuine 19th century Yellow Boy. The original saddle ring remains attached to the left side of the receiver. These rings are frequently missing from surviving carbines after generations of handling and use, making its presence an important feature.

The walnut fore stock is in good service used condition and has darkened to a rich red brown color. There is some splitting forward of the barrel band, a condition often encountered in heavily used Model 1866 carbines. The butt stock is especially attractive, showing a warm red brown color and pronounced natural grain. It terminates in a brass hooked butt plate containing its original storage compartment, and the compartment remains functional.

Mechanically, the action cycles well in its present condition, with tight operation and a crisp dry fire. We did not encounter sticking or other obvious mechanical problems during manual examination. These observations describe only the present condition of the antique mechanism and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the carbine is safe to fire.

The bore is in very good condition, retaining strong rifling throughout and a partly bright interior. There is some normal wear together with evidence of past oxidation, but the rifling remains well defined. This is a notably good bore for a Model 1866 carbine, as many surviving examples show considerably heavier black powder corrosion and rifling wear.

With its desirable Third Model configuration, 1873 production date, serial number 113277, original saddle ring, 20" carbine barrel, surviving two leaf rear sight, exceptionally legible Winchester barrel address, attractive untouched gunmetal receiver, handsome walnut stocks, very good bore, and intriguing period style centerfire conversion, this is a particularly appealing Winchester Model 1866 Yellow Boy. It would display exceptionally well in an advanced Winchester collection, a collection of early American repeating arms, or an Old West grouping illustrating the transition from the Henry rifle to the later centerfire Winchesters that came to define the frontier era.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1873
Maker: Winchester's Repeating Arms Co.
Model: 1866 Carbine
Serial No.: 113277
Caliber: .44 Centerfire
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 20 Inches
Overall Length: 39 Inches
Action type: Lever Action Repeater
Feed System: 13-round tube magazine
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

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.