Special order Winchester Model 1895 Takedown Fancy Sporting Rifle manufactured in 1914. The rifle is chambered for the very desirable .405 W.C.F. cartridge and features Winchester No. 1 factory engraving with Style B relief carving on the highly figured, fancy grade walnut stock and forearm. The Winchester No.1 engraving features three, highly detailed, solid gold, damascened African, Indian and American game animals: a leopard, tiger and grizzly bear. The game scenes are surrounded by what the Winchester "HIGHLY FINISHED ARMS" catalogue describes as "arabesque scrolls set off by artistic border work" on the sides of the receiver, magazine, lever, hammer, top of the bolt, takedown collar, and barrel muzzle and breech. The game scenes and engraving are further enhanced by gold inlays on the receiver, takedown collar, bolt, lever, breech and muzzle. The Style B carving on the stock and forearm consists of relief scrollwork on a stippled background intended to harmonize with the ornamentation on the barrel, receiver, bolt and lever. A Winchester Model 1895 Fancy Takedown Rifle with very similar No. 1 factory engraving and Style B carving on the stock and forearm is illustrated on page 224 of "THE BOOK OF WINCHESTER ENGRAVING" by R.L. Wilson. A Winchester advertisement from the 1920, No. 82 catalogue that shows a Winchester Model 1895 Takedown Fancy Sporting Rifle with No.1. engraving and Style B. carving is reproduced on page 295 of "THE BOOK OF WINCHESTER ENGRAVING. In addition to the factory engraving, gold damascened game scenes, gold inlays and relief carved fancy walnut stock and forearm, the rifle has several special order features. The barrel has a "Winchester Express" front sight with colored bead and rare, folding leaf express rear sight with one fixed and three folding leaves marked 1-4. Sling swivel eyes are fitted to the underside of the barrel and stock. The top of the receiver is matted between the breech and take-down collar. Finally, the stock is fitted with a red rubber recoil pad with black spacer. The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped: "-NICKEL STEEL BARREL-/ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER" in two lines below the rear sight. The caliber: "405 W.C.F.", is roll-stamped just above the engraving on the left side of the barrel. Oval Winchester "W/P" proof marks are stamped on the top of the barrel and upper left side of the receiver surrounded by scrollwork: The Winchester legend and patent dates are roll-stamped in two extended lines on the left side of the receiver surrounded by fine arabesque border work. "Model 1895/-WINCHESTER-/TRADE MARK REG. IN U.S.PAT. OFF." is roll-stamped in three lines on the upper receiver tang with gold-inlaid borders on either end of the marking. The serial number "88455" is stamped across the bottom of the lower tang.

Excellent. This rifle retains 98% of the original blue finish. The sides of the magazine lack the scuff marks often found on Model 1895 rifles. The intricate and flawlessly executed engraving is deep and crisp. The highly detailed, solid gold damascened leopard, tiger and bear are in perfect condition. The relief carving on the stock and forearm shows. The highly figured reoiled stock and forearm are very fine with a replaced recoil pad. Mechanically excellent. This is a stunning example of the highest quality factory engraving, gold inlays and relief carved stock and forearm available on a 20th Century Winchester rifle. Provenance: Robert M. Lee Collection.