This is a beautiful example of a deluxe Winchester model 1885 rifle that exhibits some of the best and highest degree of the gun maker's art as applied by two of the finest craftsman in the US today, Nick Kusmit and John Durkin. The rifle itself is the ever popular Winchester model 1885 low wall in 22LR that has been painstakingly restored and embellished with 50-60% engraving on the action and then has been fitted with a buttstock and forend made of extra fancy or select grade of crotch walnut that has been handfitted, deep relief carved, and finely checkered in the pistol grip area and sides of the forend. The action has a wonderful heart shaped border around the edges with a fine English scroll engraving with a clam shell motif in the center of the frame with a leaping squirrel and running rabbit depicted inside the clam shell on the left and right sides respectively. Both are somewhat similar to a Winchester No 8 style of engraving. The scroll engraving also covers the top of the action, the underside of the lever, the front and rear sections of the barrel and on top of the rear sight. The buttstock and forend are both made of a select grade of walnut that also exhibits some crotch figure on top of the comb and underside of the stock in front of the buttplate. As noted, the sides of the forend and pistol grip area have been carved in a large oak leaf pattern, with deluxe fine line checkering that surrounds and compliments the carving. The complete action and buttplate have been completely color case hardened and the barrel and sight have a fine rust blued finish. The rifle itself was made in 1900 and features a number '1' weight full octagon barrel that is marked on top of the barrel with the two line address/patent markings of 'MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN NY. U.S.A.' along with the caliber markings of '22 LONG R' in front of the receiver. The Winchester oval proof is marked on the top of the barrel at the breech and on the top of the receiver, the upper tang is covered by a Lyman tang sight, but it would probably be marked 'REG. in U.S. PAT. OFF / --WINCHESTER-- / --TRADE MARK--" and the serial number is marked on the end of the lower tang.

Excellent as professionally embellished and restored with 99% blue and color case hardened finish. The wood is also in excellent condition. This is just a wonderful example of deluxe gun makers art, Winchester 1885 single shot rifle in 22LR.