Who invented the Winchester rifle?

Answer 1

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.