Author Topic: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire  (Read 3219 times)

Offline shrapnel

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Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« on: April 24, 2019, 09:44:55 AM »


I have been looking at a few guns a guy has been talking about selling for several years. I finally got this 1866 and have sent for a letter. I have posted pictures on other sites and it seems that everyone debates the engraving and wood on the stock, but I will see what the letter says. Either way, it is a nice original gun in a scarce configuration, as very few were ever made in centerfire...







I never considered myself a failure...I started out at the bottom and happen to like it here!

Offline dddrees

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2019, 09:54:49 AM »
Fabulous example, very nice indeed. Thanks for sharing.

Offline Abilene

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2019, 09:59:00 AM »
Excellent!

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #3 on: Today at 05:28:35 AM »

Offline Dave T

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2019, 10:41:54 AM »
I don't generally like engraved firearms but that is one KOOL '66 SRC.

Dave

Offline Coffinmaker

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2019, 11:20:59 AM »

Well.  Well well well.  As it twer, I ain't a collector.  Don't collect anything.  The fore going just gives me a great Caveat:  I don't care about the wood except it's really gorgeous.  Much much nicer than what you would see from the factory in the day.  UNLESS:  The rifle was ordered and purchased as a presentation piece.  That would also explain the engraving.  I would be more inclined to think the swell wood and engraving were added post manufacture and I don't care.

The Mostest keyiest thing here is you have an Original (we hope) Central Fire 1866.  Coolest of the cool.  There were actually a pile of Central Fire 1866s manufactured.  Unfortunately they were all packed in grease and shipped to South America and Spain.  There may have been as many as a half dozen that escaped the export.  "Most" Central Fire 1866s we see, here, today, were export guns that were acquired in south America, then re-patriated.  Where the person you got it from, got it just doesn't matter.  You have a really really way cool Rifle.  All you need to do now is make some cartridges that will chamber.  I believe 44 Russian cases will serve as parent cases (don't quote me) for modified 44 Henry Central Fire or one other cartridge whom name escapes me. 

Atz just plain WAY KOOL!!!

Offline nativeshootist

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2019, 04:49:13 PM »
Very nice looking rifle there, that engraving is one of a kind! If you wanted to shoot it. DJ on this forum talked about converting a rimfire to center fire, he even gave some info on replicating the ammo using .44 Russian cases

Offline shrapnel

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2019, 06:10:34 PM »


The stock and frame do have matching assembly numbers. I am hoping that the letter bears this out. I have good ties with Mike Venturino, who many here probably know, and we took it into his basement and got some 44 Russian cases and shot the gun. Next is to see if we can get it to shoot POI and then go hunting with it...





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Offline Coal Creek Griff

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2019, 08:20:57 PM »
Boy oh boy! That is So cool. When you get the Cody letter, I'd love to hear what you find out.

I believe that Buck Stinson had opportunities to shoot an original 1866 in his youth, but that's one of those experiences I don't ever expect to have. Again, thank you for letting us get vicarious enjoyment out of this! I really am grateful.

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Offline scrubby2009

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2019, 10:15:38 AM »
Very nice, and a lovely job immediately shooting it!  Like a fine car or a beautiful woman, a proper owner should "put a few miles on" himself from time to time.
Responsive, timely, tactically accurate, and strategically precise fire.

Offline Blair

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #9 on: April 25, 2019, 12:35:56 PM »
Within the book by Madis, "The Winchester Book" is a section on the 1866's. Several photos of center fire conversions of the faces of those breach block conversions.
Would it be possible to ask you to take photos of the face of your breach block and post it here?
It would be very interesting along with the "letter" info.
Thanks.
My best,
 Blair
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Offline Will Ketchum

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #10 on: April 25, 2019, 02:35:30 PM »
Slightly off topic but in 1976 during a celebration of the Bicentennial  I had the chance to shoot an original Brown Bess and also a Henry. The owner let each of us shoot one of his collection of original rimfire Henry rounds.
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Offline shrapnel

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2019, 09:06:38 PM »
Within the book by Madis, "The Winchester Book" is a section on the 1866's. Several photos of center fire conversions of the faces of those breach block conversions.
Would it be possible to ask you to take photos of the face of your breach block and post it here?
It would be very interesting along with the "letter" info.
Thanks.
My best,
 Blair

I have seen that in Madis' book. This isn't a conversion, but a centerfire produced that way from the factory...
I never considered myself a failure...I started out at the bottom and happen to like it here!

Offline DJ

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2019, 12:47:29 AM »
The photos of the factory original centerfire breechblock and firing pin/piston design would be of interest to compare with the non-factory conversions. 

Having designed and built a centerfire conversion parts set, I can tell you it is not that straightforward without a pretty thorough redesign of the bolt to make it similar to a '73 bolt.  I'm sure that some are curious to see what route the factory took.

--DJ

Offline Blair

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #13 on: April 27, 2019, 01:56:09 PM »
DJ,
That is pretty much my reasoning for requesting a photo of the breach face.
I guess we will not be getting one.
My best,
 Blair
A Time for Prayer.
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God and the soldier we adore.
But in times of peace and all things right,
God is forgotten and the soldier slighted"
by Rudyard Kipling.
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Offline shrapnel

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #14 on: April 28, 2019, 02:26:43 PM »

I got a couple pictures of the firing pin. Included are a couple pictures of the pictures in Madis' book showing the various centerfire configurations to compare...





I never considered myself a failure...I started out at the bottom and happen to like it here!

Offline Blair

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #15 on: April 29, 2019, 02:51:55 PM »
sharapnel,

Thanks, for the images.
My best,
 Blair
A Time for Prayer.
"In times of war and not before,
God and the soldier we adore.
But in times of peace and all things right,
God is forgotten and the soldier slighted"
by Rudyard Kipling.
Blair Taylor
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Offline DJ

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #16 on: April 29, 2019, 07:58:57 PM »
Shrapnel--

Thanks for the photos.  The large hole around the firing pin is interesting.  I suppose that with the low pressures at issue, the fairly large pin must be enough to hold the primer in place, but the factory solution uses an interesting method at the bolt face end.  Do you happen to know how the piston is held inside the bolt?  With the rimfire '66, the screw-on firing pin and the extractor keep the piston from flying out the back of the action.  I wonder if the factory added a cross-pin or just relied on the extractor alone to hold the bolt.

--DJ


Offline kwilliams1876

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #17 on: May 01, 2019, 08:02:08 AM »
exquisite!  This needs to be shown off at the Cody show, hopefully you with have your letter soon.
best
kw

Offline Cliff Fendley

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #18 on: May 01, 2019, 11:22:14 AM »
Very nice, I'm very curious as to what the letter says.
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Offline NickD

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Re: Original 1866 SRC Centerfire
« Reply #19 on: May 01, 2019, 11:34:04 AM »
Hello from the U.K. cases can be made by trimming down either 38-40 or 44-40 to the correct length. The web of the case then needs trimming to allow it to chamber. A sizing Die can be obtained from CH and 4D seating can be achieved by using any .44 seating Die. Bernie Robles at Old West Bullets will supply a modified crimping Die and if required a lube Die. The 66 is great fun to shoot and a real piece of history.

 

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