Deluxe, special order, Winchester Model 1886 Fancy Takedown Rifle with Winchester No. 4 engraving signed by John Ulrich and Winchester Style D carving on the stock and forearm. This rifle is pictured and described on page 166 of "WINCHESTER ENGRAVING" by R.L. Wilson. The receiver, bolt, lever and forearm cap are decorated with No. 4 factory engraving executed and signed by John Ulrich. The engraving is described in the 1897 edition of Winchester's "HIGHLY FINISHED ARMS" as: "The receiver is engraved with embossed arabesque scrolls, line and border work, and inlaid at the base and front with gold bands. The animal scenes are engraved in outline. The finger lever, hammer and all screw heads are engraved". The right side of the receiver is engraved with a grizzly bear in a mountain setting and the left side of the receiver has a large scene of a bull and cow elk. The engraver's signature: "J. ULRICH" is located behind the trigger in tiny letters. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured 3X or 4X fancy grain walnut with a piano finish and the Winchester "Style D" combination of fine checkering and relief carved oak leaves and acorns. The stock has a black, checkered, hard rubber shotgun buttplate with the Winchester logo embossed in the center. The pistol grip has a black, hard rubber, cap embossed "WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO". The barrel, magazine, forearm cap, receiver, loading gate and bolt are blued and the hammer and trigger are color casehardened. The 24-inch tapered barrel has a Winchester Express front sight with colored bead mounted on a raised lug and a factory blank in the rear sight dove-tail. A Marbles "Flexible Rear Sight" with knurled stem is mounted on the receiver tang. The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO./NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PAT. OCT. 14. 1884. JAN. 20. 1885" between the forearm cap and rear sight dove-tail. "-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- /ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER" is roll-stamped in two lines on the left side of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver followed by the caliber: "33 W.C.F." Oval Winchester "W/P" proof marks are stamped on the centerline of the barrel and receiver. The 1884 and 1885 patent dates are stamped on the lower receiver tang behind the trigger and the serial number is stamped in block letters on the lower tang behind the tang screw.

Exceptionally fine. The barrel, magazine and forearm cap have 90% plus of the original blue finish intact with a few scattered and very insignificant handling marks. The barrel markings are crisp. The receiver has 85% original blue. Some light handling wear is visible on the forward bottom and takedown ring. The blue is thin on the right side and bottom of the takedown collar. The blue is thin on the bottom of the receiver and the lower tang has a few handling marks. There is a small spot (1/2-inch) of discoloration or flaking on upper corner of the left side of the receiver. The finish on the loading gate is thin with 60% blue intact. The hammer has 80% original case colors. The contact points on the bottom of the lever have silvered. The flawlessly executed engraving and highly detailed game scenes are crisp. The highly figured walnut stock and forearm are in very fine condition and retain 75% plus of the original piano finish. The checkered panels and relief carved checkering are sharp. This is a truly exceptional example of a factory engraved, special order Winchester Model 1886 Fancy Takedown Rifle signed by master engraver John Ulrich.