Winchester Model 1866 rifle manufactured in 1868. The rifle is a 'Third Model' with flared frame at the forearm and the serial number, "22730", stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger. The barrel has the first style legend: "HENRY'S-PATENT-OCT. 16.1860/KING'S-PATENT MARCH 29. 1866" roll-stamped in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The rifle has a 24-inch full octagon barrel and full length magazine. The barrel has a dove-tail mounted front sight with nickel silver blade and a non-factory, fixed, buckhorn style rear sight. The forearm has the early style brass tip with screw that passes through the extreme lower part of the barrel. The forearm tip is fitted with a factory sling swivel. The brass receiver has the indented style loading gate with one retaining screw. The upper tang has a single stock screw. The brass buttplate has a sharply pointed heel with hinged butt trap door. The stock has a factory sling swivel. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut with a varnish finish. The barrel and magazine are blued and the hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened.

Very good plus. The barrel and magazine have a good-looking plum-colored patina. Traces of blue finish are present in protected areas. Metal surfaces are smooth and the barrel edges are sharp. The barrel legend is light but fully legible. (See photo)The brass forearm tip, receiver and buttplate have been polished at some point but have developed a good-looking patina. The receiver has a few shallow dents on the right side above the loading gate, some discoloration on the top in front on the ejection port and some shallow dents on the forward edge of the left side plate. The balance of the receiver is in very good condition. The buttplate has scattered spots of age discoloration and a few minor scratches. The hammer and lever retain at least 60% of the original casehardened finish. The stock and forearm are in good overall condition and retain most of the varnish finish. The stock has a professionally repaired crack that runs thru the entire wrist. The repair is difficult to detect without close inspection. Both the stock and forearm have a number of shallow dents and scratches. This is an attractive example of an early production Winchester Model 1866 rifle with scarce and highly desirable Henry and King's patent markings.