The rifle has a half-round/half-octagon No. 4 barrel fitted with a wind gauge front sight with Spirit level and has no seat for a rear sight. A mid-range Vernier rear sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The "thin wall" receiver has a single set trigger. The stock and forearm are fancy grain highly figured XXX walnut with a high polish piano finish and fine checkered panels. The stock has a cheekpiece, late style pistol grip with hard rubber cap embossed "WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO.", and nickel plated Swiss buttplate. The Schnabel type forearm has an ebony inlay at the tip and is fitted with a Winchester "tuning fork" palm rest. The barrel and receiver are blued, and the hammer, breechblock and lever are casehardened. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "MANUFACTURED BY THE/WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A." followed by the caliber designation "32-40" at the breech. The lower receiver tang is roll-stamped: PATENTED OCT. 7. 79" in one line behind the trigger followed by the serial number "91552" between the tang screws. The accompanying factory letter verifies the rifle configuration, caliber, 1/2 octagon #4 32 inch barrel, "S. Set" trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, mid-range Vernier and wind gauge sights with no rear sight seat, Swiss buttplate and cheek piece, palm rest, and that it was received in the warehouse on July 7, 1903 and shipped to order number 188010 the next day. The ledger copy lists the features as well including "S. S." in the trigger column.

Excellent plus. This rifle appears to be all original and retains 98% of the bright original blue finish overall. The case colors on the bottom of the lever have faded slightly from handling. The top edges of the receiver have traces of high point wear and there are a few very minor handling marks on the receiver sides. The Swiss buttplate retains 97% of the nickel plated finish with some very minor finish wear. The barrel markings are crisp. Both the wind gauge front sight and Vernier rear sight remain in excellent condition. The highly figured fancy grade stock and forearm remain excellent plus and retain nearly all of the piano finish. The checkered panels on the pistol grip and forearm are sharp. Wear is limited to a few very minor handling marks. This is an outstanding example of a deluxe special order Winchester Model 1885 Special Single Shot rifle.