An area library has a copy of Madis’ book, and in it is a picture of an 1866 I find particularly handsome, s/n 121,902. The magazine tube does not come through the forend cap, and he says with this style, the barrel is given a more rapid taper than those with full magazines.
What were the dimensions of the standard and finer tapers for octagon barrels on the 1866? Thanks,
Karl
I forgot to post here I was able to find information on the tapers. That 1866 in Madis was made after the 1873 was introduced, and I’d bet Winchester was using the same barrels on both rifles. Pirkle’s book lists the three tapers for the early 1873. This book is available in electronic format on Amazon for a modest price, so if anyone comes across this thread in looking for similar information, you will find it, and more, in that book.
Doh!: I see today that the next to the last page in the ’66 chapter by Madis gives numbers for the regular and fast tapers. The numbers for the standard taper, though, don’t quite match those in Pirkle.
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