Description
W4351 WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 SRC; 20 inch Carbine configuration chambered in 44 RF caliber with a shiny bore that has distinct rifling and some very fine roughness. Barrel is a mottled brown and grey patina traces of blue showing through. Full length magazine tube has thinning blue. Original sights include a blade front that is integral to the barrel band and a folding two-leaf rear. Clear barrel address. Brass receiver is very good with an attractively aged patina. Tight fitting side plates and some scattered minor dings/dents. Walnut stocks are good with some scattered minor dings and scratches. Brass carbine buttplate is very good. Research reveals that this gun was part of a large either military or police contract for a South American country probably Argentina. A circular inspector’s mark on the butt stock which is a circle with what appears to be three intertwined letters. A circled “AOS” monogram cartouche on the left of the stock and another faint “AOS” cartouche on the bottom just behind the lower tang. The round cartouche with the letters “AOS” on the buttstock is pictured on page 65 of the Winchester Book by George Madis who states that nearly 12,000 Model 1866 Carbines in 135.000-148000 serial number range were sold to Argentina in 1877 with this carbine falling just before that range and likely part of an earlier shipment. Complete with factory letter. An iconic Winchester Model 1866 carbine with “the look” of having been there when the West was being tamed.
ANTIQUE $ 7,950.