1866 Yellow Boy - opinions please|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

I personally would like to know if it were centerfire converted ever…you’d need a photo of front of bolt also. If that matters to you.

JP

I have one I looked at and it didn’t have it but its 151,215. Its been many years since I looked the  section of the Madis book.

Bob

  Fourth model guns have iron butt plate and forearm cap instead of gun metal/brass. The 44 CAL markings on the top of the barrel appeared on some but not all of the guns with the same marks on the elevator, all above 160,000 s/n range. T/R

Here is a sort of fact list.

Here is a check list of features on the 66 so you can determine is the gun is all from the same era. This came from a collector who uses this to double check a gun before buying. He compiled it from several books and personal experience. Some number ranges will over lap or have gaps since it was compiled from different sources. I give no guarantee to the accuracy of any information.

Serial numbers begin at 12,000. 1st models 12,000 to 19,000 – 2nd models 19,000 to 25,000 – 3rd models 25,000 to 149,000 and 4th model 149,000 to 170,000 these numbers are approximate. 1st models have a extra wood screw on the top tang behind the hammer. The serial number is on the top of the stock & left side of the lower tang. From 19,000 to 139,000 the serial number is on the bottom of the tang behind the trigger and after that the serial number is at the rear of the tang in a script style. Below serial number 20,000 the butt plate has the complete serial number on it usually. 23,000 to 60,000 the butt plate 4 of the digits and after 60,000 they have only 3 digits. After 150,000 the use of assemble numbers started instead of serial numbers. Before 16,000 they had a small font assemble number on the side of the tang forward of the serial number and one each side plate and the top part of the frame under the left side plate. Butt plates were of the crescent type below 100,000 for rifles and carbines. From 102,000 to 160,000 carbines mostly had the carbine style. After 160,000 the carbines went to the steel carbine butt plate.

Forearms on 1st models are the same width as the receiver. 1st and 2nd model carbine have a forends 1/2″ shorter. Below 15,000 the frame and forearm wood were the same width (flat side) and after the receiver was flared out. The forearm caps are brass on rifles up to 135,000.

All 1st and early 2nd models do not have a 1/2 cock on the hammer. The hammer knurling has a boarder after 165,000. Levers have a smaller loop before 100,000 and mixed to 120,000. The loading gate on the early guns below 15,000 was flat. Bolts below 35,000 do not have a oil slot on the extractor. From 35,000 to 43,000 there is a mix of bolts with slots and without and the slot will be a straight cut across the bolt up to 128,000. After 128,000 the slot was changed to a oval milled on the top. The front top opening of the receiver on the the first 102,000 is straight and after that there was a notch added.

The magazine cap is threaded into the tube until 155,000. Below 102,000 the chamber is recessed for the rim of the shell. The caliber was marked on the barrel on some starting around 156,000 and by 166,000 they all were. You can have 5 or 6 land rifling to 70,000 then 5 land to 154,000 then it went to 6 land to the end. The rear barrel sight on a carbine is marked 3 & 5 up to 155,000. The front sight on a carbine is part of the front barrel band until 152,000.
At about 23,000 they went from the Henry marked barrel to the Winchester barrel address.

Between 167,000 and 169,000 one thousand C.F. guns were sent to Brazil.

Bob

My first thoughts on this great find was a little skeptical, as we’ve seen a few over the years that might not have been correct.  With that being said, I find the overall condition of this rifle in exceptional condition, as my skepticism makes me wonder, if it’s too good. The patina overall, on the rifle, looks nice, with some moderately polished brass, and yet the brass shows some aged patina look to it, as far as I can tell from the pictures. The bluing on the barrel, absence of any major dings or kicks, which, can be hard to fathom, being sent to Brazil, in 1891, and in my opinion, probably saw some sort of hard to at least average use, which this example doesn’t indicate.

I have to say what a find! To be part of the 1020, M-1866’s,that was within the serial numbers that we’re shipped off to Brazil, and in the .44 caliber Center Fire Caliber, is pretty amazing to me. Being serial number #165178, mfg. in 1886, it’s possible.  If that is what this is! 

The side plates, also look to have been on the rifle, for a considerable while, as they’re dedicated to the Mr. John Fenwick. 

I’m sure this rifles asking price wouldn’t be cheap, as the internet and all it’s information has made the World smaller, and it’s source of information, at every finger tip.

Yeah it’s possible this rifle wound up in Australia and was taken care of. Anythings possible!

This sure would be one to hold and examine closely, and even internally! IMO!

Thanks For Sharing!

Anthony

I may view this rifle next week. I am not interested in it and do not have a horse in the race. 

A big well experienced collector friend of mine has looked at this gun and has the opinion that is has had an old re-finish. The wood to metal fit is good but that barrel and magazine blue don’t look right to me. The period engraving is nice but it probably won’t letter. 

A hands on inspection is a must with a gun like this. It will have plenty of interest and is all over the internet now.

Bobs checklist post above is worth saving. I saved it years ago and have read it many times. Who wrote it Bob? 

Chris

Thank you Bob and TR! It’s a great reference for a quick checklist