The included Cody Firearm Record Office serial number confirmation states the serial number was applied on October 29, 1897 and shipped on July 1, 1899 on order 25773 with no configuration record available. The left side of the lower tang is marked "234 XXX S." The assembly number "234" is repeated on the stock inlet and buttplate. In his included letter noted Winchester expert and author George Madis called the rifle a "one-of-a-kind" due to the extremely rare factory "C" style forearm and stock checkering and .45-70 short rifle deluxe configuration. Madis examined the rifle and "found that it is all original as made by Winchester in 1898 and shipped in 1899." In his accompanying 1995 dated letter dealer and collector Tommy Rholes noted, "This is the only factory original example of this style [of checkering] that I have see in my 35 years in Winchester collecting and dealing other than illustrations in books. Published in 1897, Winchester's "Highly Finished Arms" catalog advertised the "C" style checkering at an additional cost of $30.00. As Madis stated, "This is a fine collector's Winchester and it will be a star in any collection or museum."