The accompanying factory letter states the rifle was received in the warehouse on August 18, 1896 and shipped the next day with a no. 3 30 inch octagon barrel in .50 Express caliber, plain trigger, no slots for sights, and shotgun buttplate. The rifle is fitted with a non-factory added dove tail blade front sight (bead absent) and non-factory added corresponding three folding leaf rear sight on a no. 3 barrel with the two-line Winchester address ahead of the rear sight and "50 EX" at the breech. The lower tang has the patent date and serial number. Mounted with a smooth Schnabel forearm and straight grip stock. The buttstock is fitted with a smooth steel shotgun buttplate. The exact number of 1885s made in .50 Express caliber is unknown, but the number is believed to be somewhere around only 300.

Exceptionally fine. The barrel retains 90% plus original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. The receiver retains 70% original case colors. The buttplate retains 50% plus original blue finish. The wood is excellent with some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.