Manufactured in 1895 per Madis with several highly sought after special order features. The included January 25, 1984 dated factory letter states the rifle was received in the warehouse on January 18, 1897 and shipped the same day with a round matted barrel in .30 caliber, plain trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, hard rubber shotgun buttplate, half magazine (4 cartridges), casehardened frame, and oil finish stock. The letter also provided additional information that makes this deluxe '94 historically significant: A scan of the original Winchester Records for Model 1894 housed in our Museum was made by the undersigned and it was found that Model 1894, serial number 17841 was the second one manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. with the specifications of the original letter dated February 19, 1980 [not included]. Although serial numbers would indicate the second one manufactured, it was however, the first one to be shipped from the warehouse on January 18, 1897." The rifle is fitted with a Lyman blade front sight (bead absent), an elevation adjustable rear sight, and folding tang peep sight. As stated in the factory letter the barrel is matted, which is a very rare factory special order feature. As Winchester expert and author George Madis pointed out, "Matted barrels were produced in very limited numbers." The barrel is marked "30 W.C.F" on the left side at the breech and has the two-line Winchester legend marked in the matting ahead of the rear sight. The underside of the receiver has the serial number. The forearm and pistol grip stock are checkered deluxe XXX walnut. The buttstock has a Winchester hard rubber grip cap and shotgun buttplate. The left side of the lower tang is marked "3468 XXX SOPRB." The assembly number "3468" is repeated on the stock inlet that is also marked with the model designation ("94"). As "the ultimate lever gun" for over a century, the Winchester Model 1894 rifle holds a special place in the hearts of collectors. These "working guns" were not often ordered with special, extra cost features, making deluxe variations highly sought after by collectors. This example has the added bonus of being the first of its type to leave the Winchester factory. Provenance: The Brandhorst Collection