Oliver Winchester made the first Winchester Rifle(repeating)
Most of the early work was done in New Haven, Connecticut
that was in 1860.
1860
Winchester Repeating Arms
"The gun that won the west"
Henry
By and large, Benjamin Henry. Oliver Winchester reorganized the New haven Arms Company to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company when Henry tried to take over New Haven, feeling he had been under compensated for the design of the Henry Repeating Rifle. Winchester immediately had parts of the Henry Rifle redesigned for the Model 1866. Winchester had the magazine improved, a loading gate was added to the right side of the receiver (a Nelson King design), and wooden forearms were added, but other elements of the rifle remained the same as the Henry such as the ammunition it fired, and the double firing pin.
Winchester repeating arms company made your rifle in 1955 at there New Haven,Conn.plant.
In general terms, the Henry Repeating Rifle is considered to be the forefather of the Winchester Model 1866 (the first such rifle and Model to bear the "Winchester" name). Tyler B. Henry was the inventor of the Henry Rifle, and was granted the patent for his creation on October 16th, 1860.
Please include the model number and serial number to get a answer to your question.
Arthur Pirkle has written: 'Winchester Lever Action Repeating Firearms' -- subject(s): Winchester rifle 'Winchester Lever Action Repeating Firearms, Vol. 3, The Models of 1894 and 1895 (Tourism Dynamics)'