Winchester 1866: A Smart Collector's Move

If you've been collecting firearms for even a small amount of time, you know about the iconic Winchester Model 1866 rifle. A direct descendant of the developmentally significant Henry rifle, the Winchester '66 was the first firearm produced under the Winchester name.  While not seeing any measurable military use, they enjoyed a prolific use by citizens and pioneers headed West to conquer an untamed nation.  Winchester followed up its success by releasing the Model 1873 and Model 1876 in subsequent years, which grew the brand manufacturer ever larger and offered the public a bevy of new calibers and special order options.

Next year is a notably special year for collectors of Winchester rifles.  It marks the sesquicentennial of the beloved manufacturer and the attention that will be brought to these important rifles is likely to spur an increase in their desirability.  Thankfully, Rock Island Auction Company has come into a healthy number of these classic rifles, which will be appearing in the 2015 December Premiere Firearms Auction. In fact, there are 32(!) Winchester 1866 rifles in numerous configurations that will be available.  There are exceptional presentation pieces, tried and true saddle ring carbines, early production models, and everything in-between.  Here is a look at a handful of these rifles, hopefully with at least one example for every budget.

Historic, Deluxe, Factory Engraved Presentation Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle

This rifle is tied with a saddle ring carbine for the highest estimate on an 1866.  Manufactured around 1869, this is definitely a deluxe version: factory engraved, fancy walnut stock with the high polish "piano" finish, and is gold plated on the receiver, forearm cap, and crescent buttplate.  As if the embellishments weren't enough, all the visible serial numbers match and it is engraved with the name of the "Montgomery Guard," part of the California State Militia.  The Montgomery Guard was formed in 1859, served throughout the Civil War, was mustered out of service in 1866, before being reborn again in 1868 as Company A, 1st Infantry Battalion of the California National Guard. The combination of special features and historical significance is one that many collectors find irresistible. We look forward to seeing where this very special Winchester will call home.

Exceptional Winchester Model 1866 Saddle Ring Carbine

This is the saddle ring carbine tied with the above rifle for the top estimate among Winchester 1866s.  While the rifle hangs its hat on its decoration and military ties, this SRC (saddle ring carbine) finds its high estimate based on its sterling condition.  Even after nearly 150 years, this gun is a near checklist of what collectors look for regarding condtion: high amounts of original blue finish, nice mustard-colored patina on the brass receiver, tight wood to metal fit, and screws that have not been mangled over time.  Even the buttplate, a location many guns are rested upon and prone to finish loss, still shows attractive case hardening.  We could go on about other original parts and its condition, but take our word for it, guns in this high of condition are only going to become more and more rare as time marches on.

Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Musket

This is the only Winchester 1866 Musket that we have in the 2015 December Premiere Auction.  Now, before I receive a bunch of comments correcting me about this being a musket, let me explain.  True, this rifle is not a musket.  It is not muzzle loaded nor does it use flintlock or percussion systems.  "Musket" was one of the three types of Winchester 66s that were available for purchase. There are the standard length rifle, the carbine, and the musket.  The carbine is obviously shorter than the rifle primarily for use while mounted on a horse, hence the "saddle ring carbine" name.  The "musket" Winchester 1866 is a longer rifle with a longer forearm and necessary extra barrel band.  Differences between the three are easy to spot when comparing the photos of this Winchester with those of the previous two examples. They were made primarily to appeal to military decision makers who were reluctant to leave their trusty muzzle loaders for new "repeater" technology.

A benefit to whomever wins this Winchester, besides potentially having a Winchester 66 of each barrel length, is the price. It's condition, listed as "fair" in our catalog, provides an excellent opportunity for someone to put a legendary rifle in their collection for a very attractive price.  Further sweetening the deal?  This particular 1866 musket was made in 1870, qualifying it as an antique.

Rare First Year Production Winchester Model 1866 Saddle Ring Flat Side Carbine

Here's another Winchester that advanced collectors are sure to have their eyes on. Being a 66, it already receives its fair share, but being a rare, first year production is a prized possession for any collection.  One of the features that makes these early models so easy to spot is what is called the flat gate, resulting in what is known as a "flat side" carbine.  They are also called flat sides because the receiver is flat where it meets the wood of the forearm.  Receivers of later models flared out slightly before meeting the wood.

Looking at the loading gate in the previous three examples, one notices a certain contour added to the cover of the loading gate to ease loading the gun at the breech.  Early models did not have that contour; instead, the gate was flat.  Early models also often possess other early traits, many of which were carry overs from the Henry rifle that disappeared in the subsequent models of the 1866 (there are four models total).  Besides the flat gate, this SRC also has the early traits of: Henry and King patent dates on the barrel, a two screw upper tang, and a Henry style rear receiver profile, known as the "Henry drop." This term refers to the rounded downward curve of the top of the receiver as it proceeds to the wrist.  As Henrys turned into Winchesters and subsequent Winchesters became more refined, that drop and the adjacent angular transition into the straight grip grew more streamlined and less defined.

Making this flat side even more desirable is the fact that it is all original. These guns were "working guns" that saw lots of hard use.  To find one at all, let alone in this condition is an impressive feat and a fantastic addition to any collection.

Attractive Panel Scene Engraved Winchester Model 1866 Carbine

Gorgeous wood and some well executed panel scenes make this a 1866 a 150-year old piece of eye candy.  The gun was manufactured in 1871 and the custom engraving was performed in the mid-20th century.  Even though the gun is not in its original form, its tastefully and professionally performed embellishments should earn this gun 5-figures at auction.  The entire left side of the receiver has been transformed into a single, bordered panel scene of a horse-borne hunter culling a buffalo from a herd fleeing across the plains with towering pines, majestic mountains, and a swirling sky providing the backdrop. The right side of the receiver breaks down into several framed scenes or subjects, which is a far more common style to see on even the finest of engraved firearms.  The scene to the rear of the loading gate is a frontiersman firing at a bear that is nearly upon him, which is bordered by Ulrich-style scroll work.  A small oval forward of the loading gate features the framed head of a bison. The receiver and buttplate are also gold plated. While some post-factory work has taken place on the gun, the barrel, magazine, barrel bands, hammer, lever, and trigger all still bear the original blue and casehardened finish, making for a very attractive gun with tangible links to its original configuration.

Very Fine Winchester Model 1866 Saddle Ring Carbine with Factory Letter

Another interesting SRC! Not only is it rated as "very fine" condition, but it likely has retained that condition despite being to South America and back. The underside of the stock behind the tang is stamped with a banner cartouches that contain the script letters "AOS" (shown above). Experts believe that this cartouche was a marking applied to some of the nearly 12,000 Model 1866 carbines in the 135,000-148,000 serial number range that were sold to a location in South America (possibly Argentina) in 1877. This marking is described and illustrated on page 65 of "THE WINCHESTER BOOK" by George Madis. It's always good to see a Winchester 66 back home Stateside!  Encyclopedic collectors of this model will find this an intriguing and most desirable piece.

Henry Rifles of Note

With he upcoming surge in Winchester 1866 lever actions on the horizon, some of that popularity is likely to spill over into the Henry rifles and other guns produced by new Haven Arms that gave rise to these celebrated lever guns. Fortunately, RIAC will also feature several outstanding Volcanics and Henry rifles, two of the latter come to us from the renowned Mac McCroskie Collection.  Here are a few of them in brief.

Lot 1038: Exceptional New Haven Arms Henry Second Model Lever Action Rifle from the Legendary Mac McCroskie Collection

Lot 25: Scarce Deluxe, First Model Factory Engraved New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle

Lot 3008: Fine Civil War Martially Inspected New Haven Arms Company Henry Lever Action Rifle From the Legendary Mac McCroskie Collection

Lot 15: The Only Known Matching Pair of Consecutively Serial Numbered Volcanic Lever 
Action Carbines with 16 1/2 Inch barrel

Much of the information presented in this article will be old hat for seasoned Winchester collectors, but for those more familiar with other genres, hopefully this shines a light into the variety, features, history, and embellishments that collectors of these guns seek out.  Also, make no mistake, Winchester 1866 rifles are anything but commonplace. Don't let the abundance of them in this auction fool you into thinking anything else.  Take the opportunity to pick the ones you want for your own collection, before the rush on these quintessential lever guns is on.



-Written by Joel R. Kolander

The First Truly American Firearm: The Kentucky Rifle

Exceptional, Unusual, and Documented Abias B. Smith Pennsylvania Long Rifle with Rare Belted Rifling

In the Pennsylvania countryside in the early 18th century, a uniquely American firearm was born that helped thirteen separate colonies defeat the greatest empire on Earth, form one nation, and span a continent. It is fitting that this new weapon was a conglomerate of ideas and built initially by German immigrants in the north and famously used by Anglo woodsmen in the south who became symbols of American ingenuity, self-sufficiency, and determination. In the years following the Revolutionary War until the wide spread adoption of the percussion system, the long rifle reached its pinnacle in small shops in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Many are outstanding testaments to their skill and true pieces of Americana. It is in this period that they earned their famous nickname from the men who famously used them: the long hunters who explored the Virginia backcountry known as Kentucky. Though they are more properly known as American long rifles, prior to the War of 1812, Andrew Jackson’s astounding victory over a superior force of British soldiers at New Orleans in 1815 solidified their nickname in our national memory. The song “The Hunters of Kentucky” about the battle contained the famous lines: “But Jackson he was wide awake, and wasn’t scared at trifles, For well he knew what aim we take with our Kentucky rifles.”

Those of you who attended or followed the last RIAC Premiere Auction undoubtedly noticed the wide array of beautiful early American rifles. Many of these rifles came from the extensive Piedmont Collection. Our December Premiere contains another installment from this collection as well as rifles from other collectors. Many of these rifles were built by some of the most talented American artisans of the early republic. Their names are immediately recognizable by those who collect these pieces of art: John Armstrong, Jacob Dickert, Simon Lauck, John Moll, John Noll, John Rupp, George Schreyer, Frederick and Jacob Sell, Peter White, and many more. Each of these pieces is truly a masterpiece and several contain incredibly rare attributes.

 The Kentucky’s roots came from two other firearms in the early 18th century: the shorter, larger caliber German Jaeger rifles brought from the Old World to the New by German immigrants and the long smoothbore fowling pieces and trade guns manufactured primarily in England and Western Europe and imported in large numbers for the fur trade. Why exactly these two forms were married has continually been debated. What is clear is that fowling pieces and muskets were not well suited for taking game at considerable distances, and their larger bores meant they used a greater amount of lead and powder, which were more destructive to pelts and meat. This also meant that a hunter, be they Native or Euro-American, had to carry more weight in ammunition and had to get closer to their targets. The Kentucky not only improved on those issues, but its long, rifled barrel also offered other advantages: the extended barrel combined with blade and notch sights provided a long sighting plane which allowed hunters to more fully utilize their rifle’s potential accuracy and also had the added benefit of providing more time for the slow burning black powder to combust and thus maximized power even while firing smaller, lighter balls. An experienced rifleman could hit a man or deer sized target reliably at 200 yards or more.

By the time unrest was growing in the colonies in the latter part of the 18th century, gunsmiths were producing a firearm that was found nowhere else in the world. Once the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, the American woodsman and his long rifle rose to the challenge. Many fought in local militias, but the Continental Congress also approved ten rifle units during the war including Daniel Morgan’s famous riflemen. They harassed British soldiers and targeted officers from outside effective musket range to remove key leaders from the battlefield and damage enemy morale. Morgan’s men later defeated the infamous Banastre Tarleton at the Battle of the Cowpens. In 1780, the “over the mountain men bested a Loyalist militia armed with smoothbore muskets by picking them off at range at the Battle of Kings Mountain and turned the tide of the southern campaign against Lord Cornwallis. George Rogers Clark led a group of Kentucky militia and seized the isolated settlements in Illinois justifying the American’s claim to the vast swath of territory between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River. At this stage, long rifles were still fairly plain and typically had wooden patch boxes, but his younger brother William carried a Golden Age rifle during his famous exploration of the Louisiana Purchase with Meriwether Lewis and the Corps of Discovery. Thus, while the majority of American soldiers during the Revolution were armed with smoothbore long arms, small groups of riflemen used their advanced weapons and prowess to make considerable contributions to the cause.

Silver Inlaid Golden Age Flintlock Long Rifle by Former Revolutionary War Rifleman Simon Lauck

Among the wide array of beautiful long rifles in our upcoming auction is a fine, silver inlaid rifle built by Simon Lauck. He and his brother Peter both fought with Morgan’s Provisional Rifle Corps and were gunsmiths in Winchester, Virginia after the war. It is a classic example of a rifle built during the Kentucky rifle’s Golden Age. Rifles from this era are favored by collectors due to the unique nature of each rifle and the variety of regional variations. Aside from a few makers who preferred to focus on perfecting the nuances of their designs like John Armstrong, most used many variations of styles taught to them while apprenticed to a master. They in turn passed on their own variations on to the next generation of apprentices. This led to what we now think of as the “schools” based roughly in Lehigh Valley, Lancaster, York, Lebanon, Chambersburg, and may other locales based on shared attributes and lineages.

Gunmakers were influenced by one another especially in specific areas but also adapted art forms from Europe. The carving and patch boxes, for instance, follow European trends in terms of rococo and baroque scrolls. Note the incredible variety in patch box designs on these rifles and all the little details in carving, inlays, and little components. While there were tremendous variations, also note the consistencies such as the fixed blade and notch sights and the beautiful, full length, curly maple stocks.

One area of variation among individual rifles is the variety of inlays. Many included patriotic motifs such as eagles and some contain important, but largely long forgotten, revolutionary era symbols. Such is the case with the rare rattlesnake designs on the Jacob Dickert and George Schreyer rifles. Like the long rifle itself, the use of the rattlesnake as a symbol of the American ethos well pre-dates the idea of a separate American nation. In fact, one of the first known uses of the symbol was in Benjamin Franklin’s famous “Join or Die” cartoon from 1754 calling upon the colonies to unite, with the support of Great Britain, to defeat the French in the Seven Years War (French and Indian War), a conflict started in part by a young British officer by the name of George Washington. Franklin’s cartoon came to represent the need for unity among the colonies in the American Revolution as well.

Rattlesnake engraving appearing on the patchbox of a scarce Jacob Dickert Lancaster flintlock long rifle

Another rattlesnake on the patchbox.  This time on a documented Golden Age flintlock by George Schreyer.
The other side of the stock features handsome raised carving.
Formerly of the Joe Kindig, Jr. Collection.

Rattlesnakes are only found in the Americas and were numerous in many parts of the colonies. Though they do not attack unprovoked, rattlesnakes defend themselves with deadly force when they need to defend themselves. This was the image the Founding Fathers wanted to present to the world in Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. Americans were not breaking from England needlessly; they were defending themselves against attacks on their lives and freedoms. Rattlesnakes also had another attribute that 18th century Americans knew well. As “American Guesser” wrote in 1775:

'Tis curious and amazing to observe how distinct and independent of each other the rattles of this animal are, and yet how firmly they are united together, so as never to be separated but by breaking them to pieces. One of those rattles singly, is incapable of producing sound, but the ringing of thirteen together, is sufficient to alarm the boldest man living.”

Though this symbol was very important in the colonial era and for the young American republic, very few rifles have been found that incorporate the design, especially as boldly as these two examples by Dickert and Schreyer. The snake patch box designs of course relate to the Gadsden Flag and First Navy Jack used during the war, and Dickert’s is also similar to the design utilized on early Virginia Manufactory rifles.

Desirable Silver Inlaid Flintlock Kentucky Long Rifle Signed by Golden Age Master Craftsman Frederick Sell
of the Littletown School with Raised Carved Stock

                The Frederick Sell rifle is another good example of the paradox of both unity in overall design through the use of consistent motifs and basic configurations and yet the individuality of the combination of carving and engraving on each rifle. Sell was considered by influential Kentucky rifle scholar Joe Kindig, Jr. as “one of the great masters of Kentucky rifle making” and was part of one of the most influential gunsmithing families during the Golden Age. His greatness comes from the fact that he developed his tremendous skill set while working underneath at least three earlier accomplished masters: George Eister, John Lechner, and Adam Ernst. His presumed father, Jacob Sell, was among the most talented makers of the prior generation, and Frederick’s brother who was also named Jacob (often referred to as Jacob the Younger) was also a gifted maker in his own right.  Sell adopted the best aspects of the designs of each of the men under whom he worked. Thus, he created his own style and his own variations while keeping his designs tied to the past and reflected the American ideal of balancing community with individualism.

Jacob Sell the Elder Signed Early Golden Age Flintlock Long Rifle with Silver Inlaid Stock

Peter White is also a great example of someone that was part of a family line of gunmakers that pre-dates the United States and continued well after our independence was secured by victory in the War of 1812. He is the son of either Nicholas or John White who were both gunsmiths during the fight for independence, and at least one of his sons continued to build rifles after his death in 1834. One of the interesting aspects of White’s rifle is that the lock appears to have been built by him. Most gunmakers used locks imported from Europe or produced by dedicated lockmakers in the cities. This rifle is also noticeably slender relative to others of the style and era.

By the time of White’s death, the long rifle and the flintlock system had peaked and were beginning to be replaced by shorter, larger bore rifles. The percussion system and the spread of industry also helped shift firearms production away from individually built masterpieces. The Hawken brothers’ “Plains” or “Mountain” rifle style relatively quickly became the preferred design as the frontier pushed ever further past the Mississippi. Nonetheless, the long rifle persisted, and its legacy continued to influence American firearms for generations. In fact, long rifles have been in essentially continuous production by American gunmakers from the early 18th century into the present day. One look at the Contemporary Long Rifle Association is all it takes to attest the fact that the art of building the first truly American firearm by hand is still alive and will be for generations to come.

Desirable Peter White Golden Age Flintlock Long Rifle with Raised Carved Wood

This discussion has hardly scratched the surface of all of the beautiful rifles in our upcoming auction. For more information see AmericanLongrifles.org, KentuckyRifleAssociation.org, KentuckyRifleFoundation.org, or the many detailed books including Joe Kindig, Jr.’s classic Thoughts on The Kentucky Rifle in It’s Golden Age and Merrill Lindsay’s The Kentucky Rifle both of which contain pictures and discussions of several of the rifles in the upcoming auction. Do not miss your opportunity to see these rifles first hand and please join us for our Premiere Firearms Auction December 4th, 5th, and 6th.

-Written by Seth Isaacson