Early production Winchester Model 1885 High Wall Special Sporting Rifle manufactured in 1886. The rifle is accompanied by a letter from the Winchester Arms Museum dated 1887 that describes it as: "Rifle, 32/40, Plain trigger, checkered stock, Pistol grip, No rear sight, Mid-range Vernier and Wind Gauge sight, Swiss butt plate" and "Marked at 200 yards elevation "see order 6875". The letter states that this rifle was shipped from the warehouse on February 24, 1886. The rifle has a round, #3, 28-inch barrel with matted top. The barrel has no provision for a rear sight and is fitted with a Winchester Wind Gauge front sight with spirit level. A mid-range vernier peep sight is mounted on the receiver tang. Although the Winchester Museum letter states that the rifle was shipped with a "Plain" trigger, the rifle presently has a single set-trigger. The letter also states it was shipped in .32-40 caliber, however it clearly has a .38-55 caliber barrel. The rifle has a blue barrel, color casehardened 'thinwall' receiver, hammer, and trigger. The stock and forearm are deluxe, fancy grain, walnut with fine checkering, ebony inlays on the pistol grip and forearm tip and a high polish piano finish. The stock is fitted with a factory, brass, nickel plated Swiss buttplate. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "- MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS Co. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.-" with arrows on the end of each line of the legend. The barrel mattting was applied by Winchester over the factory legend. The lower tang is stamped: "-PAT. OCT. 7TH 79-" in one line behind the trigger and the serial number, "1599" is stamped with script numerals between the tang screws.