The accompanying Winchester Gun Museum letter (copy) addressed to noted collector and dealer Lewis Yearout lists this rifle with 30 inch octagon barrel in .38-55 caliber with no rear seat (currently replacement no.3 round barrel in .40 Express with three leaf rear sight), plain trigger (currently a set trigger), and checkered pistol grip stock with German silver name plate and Swiss cheekpiece when shipped on April 24, 1889. A copy of the Winchester ledger for this rifle is also included. The rifle is fitted with a combination Beach front sight, three leaf rear sight and Vernier tang sight. The barrel is stamped with the two-line address ahead of the rear sight and "40 EX" at the breech. The lower tang has the patent date and the serial number. The forearm and pistol grip stock are deluxe "XXX" walnut and feature a cheekpiece, blank German silver oval inlay on the right side of the buttstock and Swiss buttplate. The left side of the lower tang is marked "2580 XXX SBC." The assembly number "2580" is also on the stock let, and buttplate, and the partial assembly number "580" is on both buttplate screws.

Fine. The replacement barrel retains 60% refinished blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. A few areas of original cased colors remain on the receiver and lever. 70% original nickel remains on the brass buttplate. The wood is also fine with a hairline stress crack at the upper tang, minor dings and scratches and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Model 1885s are rarely encountered in .40 Express.