At the 1982 Safari Club International convention at the Tropicana hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, the SCI introduced the SCI Big Five Masterpiece Collection of highly embellished, hand crafted custom rifles. Fantastically engraved and gold inlaid rifles with engraving based on original oil paintings by well known artists who supported the SCI. The David Miller Company was instrumental in bringing this project to fulfillment and as such they were given the task of constructing not only the first in the series, but the last as well. This Rifle Number 5 entitled "The Leopard" was the final in the series and when it sold at auction at the 1986 convention, it hammered for an astounding $201,000, a world record at that time. The rifle is pictured on multiple pages of the book "Mastery of Wood & Metal: David Miller Co." by Tom Turpin, "Steel Canvas" page 290 by Wilson, and has been featured on the cover of firearms magazines such as the December 1991 issue of "Australian Shooters Journal". This absolutely fabulous rifle is built on Winchester Model 70 action serial number "G1" designed in a partnership between David Miller and U.S. Repeating Arms Co. (this action is now known as the Winchester Model 70 Classic action). The medium weight barrel is fitted with a ramped beaded blade front sight with knurled hood with dual gold inlaid bands, gold inlaid bands and leafy scroll at the muzzle, and matching gold inlay on the sight ramp. The barrel is marked "338 WIN MAG" in finely engraved lettering between the matching engraved and gold inlaid center band with a sling swivel eye, and the raised quarter rib with a contrasting French gray face marked "DAVID MILLER CO." ahead of the express notch rear sight and "S.C.I. No. 5" with gold inlaid line borders, and matching gold inlaid leafy acanthus scroll transitioning from the rib to the receiver ring. The receiver ring and bridge are finished in the same contrasting French gray with further contrasting blue and gold inlaid line borders surrounding yet more gold inlaid leafy scroll work. The floorplate in a combination for fine French gray and blue with a wonderfully detailed, semi-relief engraved image of a gold inlaid leopard resting in a tree. The floorplate is signed "L. McKENZIE" just ahead of the trigger guard. The magazine box (under the floorplate) is inscribed "DAVID MILLER CURT CRUM DALE DREW" on the left, and "ART BY GUY COHELEACH ENG. BY LYNTON McKENZIE" and even the top of the magazine spring is stamped "4 CARTRIDGES" surrounded by engraved leaf scroll. It also seems that no area was deemed too minor to warrant fine, flush gold inlays including the bolt handle and shroud, trigger guard, and even the very end of the bolt handle knob. The pistol grip stock is highly figured walnut with an ebony forend cap, engraved steel grip cap with a relief gold inlaid Safari Club International logo, engraved and gold inlaid reinforcing bolts, raised shadowline cheek piece, engraved and gold inlaid inset rear sling swivel eye, and French gray finished steel buttplate with gold inlaid borders (even the sides of the buttplate are engraved and inlaid with gold!) The buttplate is inscribed "GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY/MODEL 70 1936-1986" in two banners. The rifle includes its original leather bound oak case with large brass Safari Club International logo on the exterior of the lid, engraved and gold inlaid brass fittings, small plaque on the interior inscribed "CASE BY/DAVID MILLER CO./1986". The interior of the case is lined in a combination of gray and brown suede and has three separate compartments with latching lids made of highly figured walnut which is a very close match to the rifle stock. The interior of the lid is affixed with a brass plaque inscribed "BIG FIVE CLASSIC MASTERPIECE COLLECTION/NUMBER FIVE/THE LEOPARD/CREATED IN ASSOCIATION WITH/U.S. REPEATING ARMS COMPANY/SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL/CRAFTED BY/DAVID MILLER CO./DAVID MILLER*CURT CRUM*DALE DREW*LYNTON McKENZIE". The case contains the following accessories: matching engraved and gold inlaid Steve Hoel folding pocket knife; set of two ebony handled London pattern turnscrews with engraved and gold inlaid fittings, three brass containers for patches, oil, and solvent with engraved lids (patch lid signed "ENG BY S.J. LINDSAY"; cleaning rod with matching ebony handle and engraved and gold inlaid fittings; cleaning rod heads; leather sling with engraved and gold inlaid quick release swivels; set of five nickel and gold finished snap caps; 20 round box of David Miller .338 Winchester magnum ammunition finished in nickel and gold, and a separate unattached brass plaque inscribed with the maker and hammer price information for each of the Big Five rifles from 1982 to 1986.

Near new in case with only very light scattered handling marks overall, brilliant gold work, sharp checkering and intense, dark figure on the wood. The case is excellent with just a few small exterior storage marks. A once in a lifetime opportunity to own not only a Winchester serial number 1, but also the finest custom bolt action rifle to ever come through RIAC!