This early Winchester Model 1894 Sporting rifle is serial number 196. The rifle is accompanied by a factory letter that lists the rifle features as: "Caliber: 38/55, Barrel Type: Octagon" and "Trigger: Plain". The letter states this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on November 5, 1894. The rifle has a 26 inch full octagon barrel and full length magazine. The barrel has a gold washed Beach folding combination front sight and a buckhorn sporting style rear sight with adjustable center notch and serrated edges. The barrel, magazine, receiver, forearm cap, and loading gate are blued, and the hammer, lever and crescent buttplate have a color casehardened finish. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut with a high a high polish piano finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.-" in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The caliber "38-55" is stamped on the top of the barrel just ahead of the receiver. The serial number "196" is stamped across the underside of the front of the receiver. "MODEL 1894./-WINCHESTER-/PAT. AUG. 21. 1894." is roll-stamped in three lines on the upper receiver tang.