Brass catches the eye first on this Yellowboy, and the blued barrel and walnut stock keep it looking like a working rifle rather than a mantel piece. The 1866 was the Winchester that followed the Henry, and Cimarron builds this one in the old pattern with a short 16-inch barrel.

Short barrels are a pleasure on horseback and in a pickup rack. The carbine length swings fast, fits through brush, and does not hang up on a barn door. The .44/40 cartridge is a classic of the lever-gun era, gentle on the shoulder and plenty for deer-sized game at the ranges where an open-sighted rifle makes sense.

Cowboy action shooters will like the way the brass receiver looks on the line. Folks who just want a handsome saddle gun for the ranch will like it too. Keep it oiled, wipe the brass with a soft cloth, and it will stay good-looking for decades.

Check local rules before hunting with it, since straight-wall cartridge laws differ by state. It ships to your FFL dealer, where the background check is done before you take it home.