Winchester Lever-Action repeating rifles are an integral part of the
folklore of the American West. Introduced shortly after the American
Civil War, the very first Winchester, the M1866, would go on to see
military service as far afield as Bulgaria, but it was in the hands of
civilians that it would become known as 'The gun that won the west.'
Offering a lethal combination of portability, ruggedness and ammunition
interchangeability with pistol sidearms, the Winchesters and their
innovative and elegant breech-loading system represented a revolutionary
design. They were used by a staggering variety of military and civilian
groups - gold-miners, trappers, hunters, farmers, lawmen, professional
gunmen and Native Americans. It equipped a whole generation of settlers
and as such left an imprint on American culture that continues to
resonate today. This book explores the Winchesters' unique place in the
history of firearms, revealing the technical secrets of their success
with a full array of color artwork, period illustrations and close-up
photographs.