The factory letter confirms the serial number was applied on October 29, 1900, the rifle was received in the warehouse on November 3, and shipped two days later to order 72812 as a takedown rifle with a .30 caliber extra light round barrel, plain trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, Lyman sights, 1/2 magazine, and matte finish. The barrel has a rare matte top and is fitted with a special order Lyman "Jack" front sight with white bead and Winchester express rear sight with three folding leaves. The leaves are marked "50", "1" and "2" and have platinum sight lines. A Lyman folding combination sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The forearm and pistol grip stock are nicely figured XXX fancy grade American walnut with Winchester "Style H" checkering and a high polish piano finish. The stock has a hard rubber pistol grip cap embossed "WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO." and a checkered hard rubber shotgun buttplate embossed with the round "WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS " logo. The takedown lever is roll-stamped with the 1893 patent date. The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped "MANUFACTURED BY THE/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.-" ahead of the rear sight. "NICKEL STEEL BARREL/ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER" is roll-stamped on the left side of the barrel behind the rear sight followed by "30 W.C.F.". The serial number "98384" is roll-stamped across the bottom of the receiver. The rifle is blue with color casehardened hammer, trigger, and lever and fire blue loading gate and extractor.

Excellent. The barrel, half-magazine, and forearm cap retain 95% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish. The barrel markings are crisp. The upper right edge of the receiver and the edges of the takedown collar have some small areas of flaking with the remainder of receiver retaining 95% of the bright original high polish blue finish. Nearly all of the bright original nitre blue finish remains on the loading gate and extractor. The hammer, trigger and lever have 97% or more of the casehardened finish. The highly figured walnut stock and forearm are both excellent plus with minimal handling and storage wear. The high polish piano finish is nearly all complete, and the checkered panels are extremely sharp. This is both an exceptional and highly attractive example of an antique Winchester Deluxe Model 1894 Fancy Takedown Lever Action rifle with rare matted barrel.