This is a extremely rare, "one-of-a-kind" original Winchester Repeating Arms Company design drawing, circa late 1875. This design/line drawing was for a proposed but never actually produced, rare unknown, Winchester "Model 1875 Sporting Rifle". This beautiful drawing itself measures approximately 23 1/2 x 10 inches and was drawn on a cloth/fabric type material, vs. your typical butcher block or drafting paper. The drawing is framed in a white back ground fiber board that has been mounted in a 31 1/2 x 17 1/2 inch, gold painted hardwood frame. The lower part of the frame has a 4 3/8 x 1 3/4 inch black plastic label at the bottom that reads; "ORIGINAL WINCHESTER/REPEATING ARMS COMPANY/DESIGN DRAWING OF/MODEL 1875 SPORTING RIFLE/C. LATE 1875". The rifle depicted in the line drawing, actually looks like an improved Winchester Model 1873 or a transition model from the Model 1873 to the Model 1876 rifle. It has the same outward configuration with detachable side plates, with a slightly more pronounced pistol grip with checkering on the sides with a slightly more angled cocking lever somewhat like the late Model 71. This rifle was probably superseded by the later Model 1876 rifle as it was never actually produced. A very scarce one of a kind drawing for the advanced Winchester collector.

Very fine overall with the line drawing being nicely mounted that shows some dark spots and creases here and there but no rips or tears in the fabric/material that the drawing was made on. The board is also in excellent condition with no spotting or staining. The frame as note is a hardwood material that has a red primer underneath the gold paint that has been distressed to look old. A super rare one of a kind Winchester framed design drawing.