This is an exceptional example of an extremely rare deluxe Winchester Model 1887 Lever Action Shotgun with Cody Firearms Museum letter. The letter describes this shotgun as 12 gauge with 30-inch "Fine Damascus" barrel and "Fancy checkered stock" and states that it was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on July 21, 1889. In addition to the Damascus barrel, the shotgun has a blued, five-shot, magazine and color case-hardened receiver and lever. The distinctive two-piece forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grain walnut with checkered panels and a high polish, piano, finish. The stock has a black hard rubber, checkered buttplate with the round Winchester trademark in the center. The left side of the receiver is roll-engraved with the distinctive Winchester, "WRA Co" monogram. Both sides of the receiver are engraved with double-line borders. The serial number, "6184" is stamped on the underside of the receiver in front of the lever cut-out. The lower receiver tang is roll-stamped: "MANUFACTURED BY THE/WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO./-NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A.-/PAT. FEB. 16. & JUL. 20. 1886". Designed by Firearms genius John M. Browning, the Model 1887 was the first Winchester repeating shotgun.

Excellent. The shotgun retains 97% of the original blue/Damascus finish. The receiver, breechblock and lever have 90% plus case colors and the barrel and magazine show very little wear. The highly figured 4x fancy grain walnut stock and forearm are in excellent condition with a few scattered, minor, handling marks. The checkering is sharp and nearly all of the high polish piano finish remains intact. This is an outstanding, documented, example of a Deluxe Winchester Model 1887 Lever Action Shotgun.