This is truly an exceptional example of a special order Winchester Model 1886 Fancy Sporting Rifle that was manufactured in 1894. This rifle is accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter that lists the features as: "Rifle, 40/65 caliber, Barrel shape: Octagon, Set Trigger, Checkered stock with pistol grip" and "Sights: Lyman rear and Lyman Combination front sights". The letter states that this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on July 16, 1894. The rifle has a full octagon barrel with full length magazine. The barrel has a standard sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and a buckhorn style sporting rear sight with serrated edges and adjustable center piece. The sights appear original to the rifle, and there is no indication that the rifle was fitted with the Lyman combination front sight or tang sight listed in the Cody letter. The rifle has a special order factory single set trigger. The barrel, magazine, bolt and loading gate are blued, and the forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, deluxe, fancy grade walnut with a high polish piano finish. The forearm and pistol grip have Winchester "Style H" checkering. The bottom of the pistol grip is inlaid with an ebony insert. 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.-" in two-lines ahead of the rear sight. "40-65 W.C.F." is roll-stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "-MODEL 1866-" and the lower tang is marked with the 1884 and 1885 patent dates in two-lines behind the trigger. The serial number "89431" is stamped on the lower tang between the rear tang screws.