The Winchester Model 1866
Winchester produced about 170,000 model 1866's from 1866 to 1898. The '66 is often called "the gun that won the west" where the Indians called it "many shots" and "heap firing" guns. It was also known on the frontier as "yellow boy" because of its brass frames. Serial numbers for the '66 begin at 12,476 and were at first placed beneath the buttstock on the left side of the upper tang. After about number 20,000 the serial number was marked on lower tang where it was visible with removing the buttstock. No model number was marked on the rifle. In addition to the rifle, the '66 was also manufactured as a carbine and as a musket.