Winchester 1866- produced in anything besides .44 Henry?

[.455_Hunter]

Howdy,

Was the 1866 Winchester ever chambered in anything besides the .44 rimfire Henry round?

With about 160,000 made 1866 to 1898, one would surmise the old rimfire round was getting a bit long in the tooth just a few years before the 20th century.

Thanks,

Hunter

 

[Crunchy Frog]

From what I understand Winchester only offered the '66 in the .44 Rimfire. The 1873 was developed around the centerfire .44 WCF cartridge (aka .44-40) but continued to sell the '66 which had a lower price.

I have read posts by folks who claim to have seen centerfire 1866 rifles, some described as having two firing pins. Some assumed these were aftermarket conversions. I've never seen a photo.

 

[.455_Hunter]

What prompted me to ask is that a LGS is selling a supposedly original 1866 that they promote to be in .44-40. Given the significant difference in cartridge OAL, I highly doubt it. Perhaps they have been duped by a replica that has been convincingly "aged".

 

[Coyote3855]

To the best of my knowledge, the 1866 was only made in the Henry .44 rimfire. I believe that both the 1860 Henry and the 1866 Winchester had dual firing pins (striking the rim 180 degrees apart) to increase reliability with the rimfire cartridge.

 

[Jim Watson]

A vague memory and some googling turned up the .44 Henry Centerfire.
Most of the late 1866 rifles in centerfire went to Brazil where the ammo may well have been interchangeable with 11mm Nagant.

No .44-40s.

 

[Dr.Rob]

44 Henry centerfire was a thing for a short time. A number of Henry and 1866 rifles were converted though 44 rimfire was in production until or just after WW2.

 

[Jim K]

"...a LGS is selling a supposedly original 1866 that they promote to be in .44-40..."

I suggest not investing the kid's college fund. Whether the LGS has been taken or is trying to take its customers is beside the point, the gun is a bummer.

Jim