Rare, deluxe, special order Winchester Model 1885 Low Wall Special Sporting Rifle with Cody Firearms Museum letter. The letter describes the features of this rifle as: "Caliber: 22L, Barrel Type: 1/2 Octagon, Barrel Weight: #2, Barrel Length: 28 inches, Trigger: Set, Checkered Stock, Pistol Grip, Swiss Cheek Piece" and "Sights: Mid-range Vernier, Wind gauge, No rear seat". The letter states this rifle was shipped from Winchester on October 25, 1895, and returned for repair on December 5, 1895. The rifle has a blued, 28 inch, #2, full round barrel chambered for the .22 Long cartridge. The barrel has a wind gauge globe front sight and a blank in the rear sight dovetail. The thickside receiver, breechblock, hammer and lever are color casehardened. A vernier mid-range sight is mounted on the receiver tang, and the rifle has a single set trigger. The stock and forearm are highly figured, deluxe, fancy grain walnut with a high polish piano finish. The stock has a checkered pistol grip with ebony inlay on the bottom, cheekpiece and nickel plated, brass Swiss buttplate. The forearm is checkered and has an ebony inlay at the tip. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.- in two lines ahead of the rear sight dovetail. "22 LONG." is roll-stamped on the top of the barrel just ahead of the receiver. "PAT. OCT. 7TH 79" is roll-stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger, and the serial number, "68677", is stamped in script numerals behind the tang screws. Deluxe, special order Low Wall Model 1885 rifles like this example are rare.

Very fine. The rifle retains nearly 90% of the original blue and 70% color casehardened finish. Nearly all of the Winchester commercial blue finish remains on the barrel; wear is limited to some edge wear at the muzzle, several very minor spots of discoloration between the forearm and the front sight, and several very small spot of light pitting on the right side of the barrel. The bore shows wear but is bright with strong rifling. The case colors on the receiver, lower tang and lever have faded but remain about 90% complete. The Swiss buttplate retains at least 90% of the nickel plated finish with some finish loss on the buttplate prongs. The stock and forearm remain in very good to excellent condition and retain at least 90% of the high polish piano finish. The checkering on the forearm and pistol grip remains sharp. Wear is limited to a few scattered and very minor storage marks. This is an exceptional example of a scarce Deluxe, Low Wall Winchester Model 1885 Special Sporting rifle.