Every now and then, a firearm comes across the review bench that is less about tactical utility and entirely about history, craftsmanship, and heritage. The Uberti Model 1866 Yellowboy “Gabriel Dumont, Prince of the Plains” Commemorative Edition is exactly that kind of rifle.
For Canadian hunters and history buffs, Gabriel Dumont needs no introduction. As the legendary Métis leader, buffalo hunter, and military commander during the 1885 North West Resistance, Dumont was famous for his marksmanship and reliance on repeating lever-action rifles. Uberti paid homage to this legacy with a highly limited, beautifully engraved run of their iconic 1866 Yellowboy clone, chambered in the historically accurate .44-40 Winchester.
Overview
Mechanically, this rifle is a faithful Italian reproduction of the Winchester Model 1866, the famous “Yellowboy” named for its glowing, solid brass receiver. Nelson King’s patented side-loading gate and the addition of a wooden forend were revolutionary improvements over the original 1860 Henry rifle.
As a commemorative edition, this specific Uberti features deep custom scroll engraving on the brass receiver, a commemorative medallion embedded in the walnut buttstock, a premium deep-blue finish on the heavy octagonal barrel, and a limited edition production number stamped directly into the metal This one is 236 out of 1000, but I don’t believe they got anywhere near 1000.
Specifications
- Action: Lever action
- Caliber: .44-40 Winchester (.44 WCF) using a .427 bore as far as I can see
- Capacity: 13+1 rounds (Full-length magazine tube)
- Barrel Length: 24 inches (Heavy octagonal profile)
- Receiver Material: Solid polished brass
- Stock: Walnut with a brass crescent buttplate and inlays
- Weight: 8.2 lbs
- Current Market Value: $2000-3000 CAD
Usability: A Joy to Shoot, if You Can Stomach the Cleaning
If you choose to take this rifle out into the woods rather than leaving it in a velvet-lined display case, you might be disappointed.
The weight of the 24-inch octagonal barrel entirely soaks up the recoil of the mild .44-40 cartridge. The action is smooth, but mine wasn’t flawless. The .44-40 cartridge itself behaves much like a modern handgun cartridge out of a rifle barrel, offering plenty of punch for close-range deer or black bear inside 100 yards, provided you choose proper hunting loads. Some modern 44-40 uses .429 sized bullets so you can reload with 44 mag bullets. Unfortunately, this one uses a .427 bore so you’re either stuck with lead bullets or appropriate .427 jacketed bullets.
Like many rifles of the time, the sights are awful. That rear sight really needs a spring or something to hold it down because it’s really floppy.
The Maintenance Warning: Solid brass receivers look good, but they tarnish rapidly from the oils on your bare hands.
Taking an 1866 action apart for a deep clean requires a high-quality set of hollow-ground gunsmithing screwdrivers. Uberti is notorious for torqueing their receiver screws incredibly tight at the factory. If you use a standard household screwdriver, you will slip and permanently scratch that irreplaceable, engraved brass receiver. Routine cleaning should involve dropping the lever, cleaning from the breech with a flexible bore snake, and wiping down the brass exterior with a dedicated metal polish to keep fingerprints from permanently etching the metal.
Aftermarket and Modifications
Do not touch a thing on this gun. Because it is a highly specific, limited-run commemorative edition, any modification, whether drilling for modern sights, adding a sling swivel, or altering the wood finish, will completely tank its collector value.
If something breaks, you will look for standard Uberti 1866 Yellowboy replacement parts, which are relatively accessible through major replica importers. However, the custom engraved components cannot be replaced off the shelf.
Competitors
Because this is a specialized commemorative piece, it occupies a unique niche compared to standard lever guns:
- Standard Uberti 1866 Yellowboy: If you love the mechanics and the .44-40 caliber but want a rifle you can toss into the back of a quad without crying over a scratch, the standard production version offers the exact same performance without the premium price tag.
- Uberti 1873 Rifle: The Model 1873 replaced the 1866 by introducing a steel receiver and a dust cover. It is structurally stronger than the brass 1866 design and handles higher-pressure modern cartridges like
.357Magnumor .44 Magnum more effectively. - Henry Repeating Arms Big Boy Brass: Henry makes modern brass-framed lever actions, but they are not historically accurate clones of the original Winchester designs. They lack the toggle-link action of the Uberti and are generally heavier.
Conclusion
The Uberti 1866 Gabriel Dumont Commemorative is a stunning intersection of Italian firearms craftsmanship and Canadian frontier history. While its size, weight, and precious finish mean it will never be a practical everyday bush gun, it is an absolute treasure for the lever-action enthusiast. Treat it with respect, use the correct tools for maintenance, and it will remain a gorgeous centerpiece of your collection for generations.
