The accompanying factory letter lists this rifle with a 22 inch round barrel in .45-70 caliber, plain trigger, oil finish, checkered pistol grip stock, Lyman receiver sight, half magazine, hard rubber shotgun buttplate, and extra light, smokeless, takedown configuration when received in the warehouse on May 29, 1902 and shipped on May 31. The letter lists two return and repair dates: June 24, 1902 and September 9, 1904. Likely during one of these returns the shotgun buttplate was changed to its current steel type. The rifle is fitted with a Lyman beaded blade front sight, elevation adjustable rear sight and Lyman receiver sight. According to Winchester expert George Madis, "Very few receiver sights were fitted to any Winchesters." These scarcely encountered factory mounted receiver sights are nearly never documented in the factory records. The factory documented receiver sight on this rifle alone makes it a highly desirable example missing from even the most advanced Winchester lever action collections. The barrel is stamped with the two-line address ahead of the rear sight and "45-70" at the breech as well as stamped "NICKEL STEEL" on the left side. The upper tang is marked "-MODEL 1886-." The lower tang has the two-line patent dates marking and the serial number. Sling eyelets are mounted on the underside of the forend cap and buttstock. The forearm and pistol grip stock are XX deluxe walnut and feature "H" style checkering. The pistol grip has a hard rubber Winchester cap. The left side of the lower tang is stamped "42 XX R." The stock inlet is also stamped with the assembly number "42" along with "1" and "72268." The back of the buttplate is stamped "**/T" and "S."

Fine as factory refurbished, retaining 60% plus factory blue finish with the balance thinning to brown mixed with some areas of gray. There are some scattered patches of pitting. Traces of original niter blue remains on the loading gate. 30% original case colors remain on the hammer and lever. The wood is also fine with some minor dings and scratches and some scattered blemishes in the recut checkering. Mechanically excellent. A deluxe Model 1886 extra lightweight takedown rifle with highly sought after rare special order features documented by the factory. As Madis notes, "Deluxe Model 86s in the rifles made after 1900 are hard to find, partly due to the higher cost of deluxe features."