SCARCE ENGRAVED EARLY WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

SCARCE ENGRAVED EARLY WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 37512. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 24-1/4″ oct bbl. Early style full mag, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight and 900-yd Henry ladder rear sight. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate with trap containing an original 4-pc brass & iron cleaning rod. Forend cap and bottom of stock have factory sling swivels. SN is found on the bottom tang with matching number. in the top tang channel of the buttstock and the last 4 digits of matching SN inside toe of buttplate. Receiver is beautifully engraved, by master engraver L.D. Nimschke in his distinctive style of flowing foliate arabesque patterns on both sides with an open counter-point panel on each sideplate. Left sideplate additionally has Mr. Nimschke’s chimera animal head and another scroll terminates in his demon bird head. Right sideplate also has this demon bird head. Engraving extends over the top of the receiver, top and bottom tangs with foliate and border patterns around the hammer slot. He also incorporated a matching dash & dot border around the top seam of the sideplate/receiver. Top front of receiver is engraved with a fine hunter’s star. Bottom of receiver is engraved with a large sunflower between the timing screws and also has Mr. Nimschke’s trademark flower blossom on the bottom of the carrier, which also has a dash & dot border. The dash & dot borders are also found around the front & rear edges of the receiver and around both tangs. Forend cap and buttplate tang are engraved to match. Pg. 121 of the 1985 edition of The Winchester Book, Madis, pictures another Model ’66 rifle, SN 21123, with the exact same engraving patterns found on this rifle. PROVENANCE: Barnes Family Collection. CONDITION: Very good. No original finish remains on the steel parts. They appear to have been cleaned to bare metal a long time ago and now have a thin silver-brown patina with darker patina on the lever and hammer. Receiver, forend cap and buttplate retain a dark mustard patina with the receiver showing moderately worn edges and slightly softened engraving patterns. Stock has a repaired crack through the toe screw hole, otherwise wood is sound with usual handling and use, nicks, scratches and dings with the buttstock retaining traces of original finish and the forearm a cleaned hand-worn patina. Lever tension springs may be dislocated or broken otherwise mechanics are fine; strong bore with moderate pitting. 4-47656 JR235 (20,000-40,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2013

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1191	$17,250.00	SCARCE ENGRAVED EARLY WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 37512. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 24-1/4″ oct bbl. Early style full mag, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight and 900-yd Henry ladder rear sight. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate with trap containing an original 4-pc brass & iron cleaning rod. Forend cap and bottom of stock have factory sling swivels. SN is found on the bottom tang with matching number. in the top tang channel of the buttstock and the last 4 digits of matching SN inside toe of buttplate. Receiver is beautifully engraved, by master engraver L.D. Nimschke in his distinctive style of flowing foliate arabesque patterns on both sides with an open counter-point panel on each sideplate. Left sideplate additionally has Mr. Nimschke’s chimera animal head and another scroll terminates in his demon bird head. Right sideplate also has this demon bird head. Engraving extends over the top of the receiver, top and bottom tangs with foliate and border patterns around the hammer slot. He also incorporated a matching dash & dot border around the top seam of the sideplate/receiver. Top front of receiver is engraved with a fine hunter’s star. Bottom of receiver is engraved with a large sunflower between the timing screws and also has Mr. Nimschke’s trademark flower blossom on the bottom of the carrier, which also has a dash & dot border. The dash & dot borders are also found around the front & rear edges of the receiver and around both tangs. Forend cap and buttplate tang are engraved to match. Pg. 121 of the 1985 edition of The Winchester Book, Madis, pictures another Model ’66 rifle, SN 21123, with the exact same engraving patterns found on this rifle. PROVENANCE: Barnes Family Collection. CONDITION: Very good. No original finish remains on the steel parts. They appear to have been cleaned to bare metal a long time ago and now have a thin silver-brown patina with darker patina on the lever and hammer. Receiver, forend cap and buttplate retain a dark mustard patina with the receiver showing moderately worn edges and slightly softened engraving patterns. Stock has a repaired crack through the toe screw hole, otherwise wood is sound with usual handling and use, nicks, scratches and dings with the buttstock retaining traces of original finish and the forearm a cleaned hand-worn patina. Lever tension springs may be dislocated or broken otherwise mechanics are fine; strong bore with moderate pitting. 4-47656 JR235 (20,000-40,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2013 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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