Manufactured in 1898 based on George Madis' serial number ranges. The accompanying factory letter addressed to acclaimed Winchester collector Andrew McCroskie lists this rifle with a half octagon barrel in .30 caliber, plain trigger, takedown and extra light weight configuration, half magazine, checkered pistol grip stock, shotgun hard rubber buttplate, oil finish, sporting rear sight, extra $10.00 style no. 6 engraving and "oval gold plate on underside of stock inscribed to "Sir W. Albertos Ferrazas (sic)". The rifle was shipped on July 22, 1901, and was returned to the factory for rework on August 1, 1901. The profuse Winchester factory no. 6 engraving consists of fine scrollwork, scroll and wavy line/dot borders and game animal scenes surrounded by ribbons. A ram is engraved on the left side of the receiver, and a stag is engraved on the right side of the receiver. Scroll flourishes extend to the forend cap, breech end of the barrel and takedown collar. The barrel is fitted with a dovetail blade front sight and an elevation adjustable rear sight and is marked with the two-line address ahead of the rear sight, "30 WCF" at the breech, and the two-line nickel steel information on the upper left flat. The upper tang is marked with the three-line model/patent date information. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grain walnut with checkering and oil finish. The buttstock has a hard rubber factory grip cap and a hard rubber shotgun buttplate. The silver oval stock plate (not gold as improperly identified in the factory letter) is factory inscribed "Sr. D. Alberto Terrazas". The left side of the lower tang is marked "12261 XXX." The assembly number "12261" is repeated on the stock inlet. Alberto Terrazas (1869-1926) was the son of Luis Terrazas and Carolina Cuilty. Luis (1829-1923) was the founder of the wealthy and politically powerful Creel-Terrazas family clan based in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Luis operated cattle ranches that once total more than 7 million acres situated on the finest Mexican grazing lands that ran from Juarez to Chihuahua City, an incomprehensible amount of acreage that made him the largest single land owner on North America. Estimations on the head of cattle roaming the ranches ranged as high as 1,000,000. An astonishing 100,000 to 150,000 head of cattle at $20 to $40 per head went to market every 12 months. Luis also severed as governor of Chihuahua for several terms. As governor, he transformed the state into a family fiefdom he ran along with his sons and son in-laws to further the family’s own economic interests. Luis used his position of power, for instance, to order armed military forces throughout Chihuahua in order to create instability in land prices and therefore he was able to buy rangeland at low prices. It was through his actions that Luis fueled the discontent that finally erupted into the Mexican Revolution of 1910 (1910-1920). Reportedly, Luis had a face to face confrontation with his enemy Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa during the early days of the Revolution. Luis accused Villa of stealing his cattle which led to a lifelong feud between the two men, and, in a strange twist of fate, both men died in the same year but under much different circumstances; Luis from old age and Villa by assassination. During the Revolution, the Terrazas family sided with President Porfirio Diaz. This became a losing proposition because in 1911 Pancho Villa overthrew the Diaz government, and the Terrazas family had to flee for their lives. At this time, the cattle were confiscated, and the ranchland was broken up. Luis, who had fled to the U.S., would later return to Mexico and receive 13 million pesos from the federal government as compensation for the loss of his lands. Alberto served as Governor of Chihuahua from 1910-1911, cut short by the overthrow of the Diaz government. He stayed in Chihuahua after the fall of Diaz, was appointed a colonel in the army, fought against Villa until 1914 when he was badly wounded, and then moved to El Paso, Texas. As of today, the Creel-Terrazas family continues to be an influential clan in Mexico.

Very fine, retaining 75% original blue finish with a smooth gray patina on the balance. 80% original case colors remain on the hammer and lever. 40% original nitre blue remains on the loading gate. The engraving is crisp. The wood is also very fine with minor handling marks and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. A wonderful example of a documented factory engraved deluxe Model 1894 with the added historical bonus of being inscribed to one of the most influential Mexican families that will make a great addition to even the most advanced Winchester collections.