The factory letter confirms the caliber, #3 weight octagon barrel, set trigger, checkered pistol grip stock with shotgun butt, and that it was received and shipped on June 19, 1886, with one other rifle as part of order 6911. It features a windage adjustable globe front sight and elevation adjustable sporting rear sight, the two-line Winchester address ahead of the rear sight, and "CAL. 40-70 BALLARD" behind it. The upper tang is fitted with a Vernier peep sight. It is also equipped with a special order single set trigger as noted above and is mounted with a fancy grade, deluxe walnut forearm and pistol grip stock with checkering and a shotgun buttplate. "1018" is marked in pencil on the inside of the forearm. "1.23 40-70 B" with "39" is stamped underneath the forearm on the barrel. The high wall, non-paneled, thickside receiver has an octagon receiver ring. This is one of the last rifles produced with this style of receiver given that this variation is found under serial number 2500 and deluxe rifles with this frame style are extremely rare.

Very fine. 80% plus of the faded original blue finish remains on the barrel along with some slight edge wear and spotting. The receiver retains half of the partially faded original case colors. The wood is very fine with crisp checkering, a few minor pressure marks, and faint scratches from handling and storage. The action functions perfectly, and the markings are crisp throughout. In sixty years of collecting single shot rifles, this is one of only two deluxe Model 1885s with this frame variation the consignor has seen. The octagon top, thickside action is very uncommon in plain rifles and super rare in deluxe, special order rifles.