Manufactured in 1895 per George Madis' serial number range. The accompanying factory letter lists this trapper carbine with a 16 inch barrel in .32 caliber and half gilt and nickel finish when received in the warehouse on January 6, 1898 and shipped on April 28, 1898. Factory records list several return dates: January 22, 1901, March 14, 1904, December 21, 1904, November 12, 1907, January 21, 1908, March 2, 1908, and March 26, 1908. These dates indicate the carbine was used as a factory exhibition gun and coincide with multiple major events, including the famous Louisiana Purchase Exposition (St. Louis World’s Fair) held from April to December 1904. At this exposition Winchester had an exhibit in the Palace of Manufactures. The gun would have been seen by millions as an extraordinary example of fine Winchester craftsmanship. The St. Louis event alone had an estimated 20 million visitors. Some of the periods are very brief suggesting smaller events or perhaps directly showing the rifle off to potential well-heeled clientele. This trapper, 74929, being a factory exhibition piece is further reinforced by its deluxe factory special order finish of "1/2 gilt and nickel" which was a special order feature of other known exhibition pieces sold by RIAC including Winchester 1886 serial number 114694 and Winchester 1886 serial number 110606. The 16 inch barrel is a seldom encountered length and is desirable in that it requires no BATF exemption. The barrel is stamped with the two-line address/patent dates ahead of the rear sight and "32 WCF" at the breech and has a pinned blade front sight and a folding ladder rear sight. A 20th century Winchester factory oval proof is stamped on the barrel and receiver at the breech. The upper tang is stamped with the three-line model/patent date marking. The serial number is located on the underside of the receiver. A saddle ring is mounted on the left side of the receiver. It has the correct magazine retaining band as used on Model 92 carbines chambered in .32-20 or .25-20. Mounted on a carbine stock. The barrel, magazine tube, bolt, hammer, lever and buttplate are plated in nickel, and the rear barrel band and receiver are plated in gold. The factory half plated gold and nickel finish is striking and very rare.

Very fine. Barrel, magazine, hammer, lever and buttplate retain 95% of the factory refurbished nickel plating with high edge wear and light flaking on the balance. The bolt retains 60% of the nickel. The receiver and barrel band retain 50% of the factory replated gold plating that is taking on an aged darkened appearance. The refinished wood is fine with a barely noticeable chip at the upper tang and some minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. A incredibly rare factory exhibition half plated trapper carbine worthy of the most advanced private or public Winchester collections. Provenance: The Brandhorst Collection.