Manufactured in 1898. The top barrel flat ahead of the rear sight is marked "-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.-" and "38-55" at the breech. The serial number is marked on the lower tang with the patent date marking directly behind the trigger. The rifle features a 34 inch #3 octagon barrel with a spirit level globe front sight and mid-range Vernier tang mounted sight. There is a factory installed filler block in the rear sight dovetail. Double Schuetzen set triggers, casehardened receiver and blue barrel and lever. The lever has a spur and is lightly engraved on the front. It is in this writers opinion that the subtle yet elegant engraving on the lever spur was done at the factory but was omitted from the letter. Mounted with a deluxe, nicely figured checkered walnut Schnabel forearm with ebony forend insert and palm rest, and pistol grip stock with hard rubber Winchester grip cap, Dutch cheek piece and nickel plated Schuetzen buttplate. The accompanying factory letter verifies the rifle configuration, caliber, #3 34 inch octagon barrel, Schuetzen set trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, mid-range Vernier and wind gauge sights, no rear sight, dutch cheek piece, spur lever, engraving not called out, palm rest and that it was received in the warehouse on July 15, 1899 and shipped out on order number 81654, July 17, 1899. Provenance: The Gateway Collection