The letter describes the features as: "Rifle, 30 caliber" and "Fancy checkered stock". The letter further states this rifle was shipped from Winchester on April 3, 1903 and returned to the warehouse for repair in August 1905 and September 1906. The rifle has the 28-inch round barrel that was standard for caliber .30 Army rifles. This barrel is roll-stamped with the caliber designation "30 U.S." on the top of the barrel just ahead of the receiver; this designation and the fact that the rifle was manufactured in 1905 indicates it is chambered for the desirable .30-03 cartridge. The barrel has a braised, ramp front sight base with brass sight blade and a standard, sporting style, rear sight with serrated edges and screw-adjustable center insert. A Lyman adjustable receiver sight with extended locking lever is mounted on the left side of the receiver. The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped: "NICKEL STEEL BARREL/ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER" in two lines just behind the rear sight. The left side of the receiver is roll-stamped with the second style Winchester legend with the "JAN. 25.98" two-line legend. The side of the rear sight is marked: "LYMAN". The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "MODEL 1895/-WINCHESTER-/TRADE MARK" in three lines. The serial number is stamped across the bottom of the lower tang between the tang screws. The barrel, receiver, rear sight and lever have a blue finish. The bolt and trigger have a high polish blue finish. The hammer and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are deluxe, highly figured, fancy grade walnut with Winchester "Style H" checkering and a high polish piano finish. The forearm tip has an ebony insert. The Winchester Model 1895 receiver was designed to handle high power cartridges, and the distinctive box magazine allowed the use of modern pointed bullets. Model 1895 rifles chambered for the .30-03 cartridge (30 Army) are particularly desirable. Model 1895 rifles with deluxe, fancy grade checkered stocks and forearms are scarce.

Very fine. This rifle is all original and retains 85% plus of the original blue finish. The barrel has 90% plus of the blue finish with the exception of a two-inch area on the top of the barrel ahead of the rear sight where the blue has thinned slightly. The finish on the top and upper right side of the receiver show handling wear, and there are some scattered patches of flaking on the sides and top of the lever. The bolt and trigger retain nearly all of the high polish blue. The hammer has nearly all of the muted case colors. The crescent buttplate shows typical handling wear and has a silver-gray patina with some rust and age discoloration on the heel and toe. The barrel and receiver markings are extremely sharp. The highly figured walnut stock and forearm are in very fine-excellent condition. There is some finish loss and what appears to be an old repair on the right stock wrist between the checkered panel and the edge of the receiver. The balance of the stock and forearm retain nearly all of the original piano finish. The checkered panels show minimal handling wear. This is a very fine example of a scarce Winchester Model 1895 Fancy Sporting Rifle chambered for the desirable .30-03 cartridge.