Records still in existence show this serial number was assigned to the 1895 model in 1896. The warehouse records at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming show this was a "Rifle .38/72, with an octagon barrel and plain trigger. It is noted as having a pistol grip and checkering, and it was received in the Winchester warehouse on March 4, 1897, and shipped out on May 12, 1897 to order number 78074.

In some cases the serial number or assembly will be found under the buttplate. Here we see the assembly number in this location. This location for the number is a relatively later feature on Winchesters. Under the hole can be see the model number, "95".

There is the additional note "R&R" (received and returned) on March 19, 1898 to order number 5808.

Under the barrel are found the markings "", vp, 38-72, 2205, C.A.C., J.P.P. and a dot punch mark.

Winchester used the mark "vp" to show the gun had been "viewed-proofed"; this meant the gun had been visually inspected as well as gauged and had been proof fired. The star and dot-punched markings would be the marks of various workmen who worked on the gun, and .38-72 would of course be the caliber, "C.A.C." and "J.P.P." were Winchester employees who worked on a variety of guns, particularly on special guns or guns returned for repairs or modifications.

At this date we do not know to who the name probably initials, "C.A.C." belonged, but the marking "J.P.P." is that of J. P. Parker, one of Winchesters best workers in the special order shops and in the mail order store.

The marking "J.P.P." has been observed on a number of guns which were either very special guns or which had been returned to Winchester.

Parker’s initials have been seen on many other guns, and he even developed a different type of rifling termed "Parkerifled".
It is unusual to find the serial numbers on the barrel, as seen here, and this would indicate a very special gun.

Hard rubber grip caps are a feature of many later guns, including the 1895 model.

On the receiver under the forend is found the same "star" marking as seen on the barrel and a number "1". These are the markings of Winchester craftsmen who worked on the gun.

Assembly numbers were used on the Model 1895 when the gun had some special features, such as seen on this rifle. This assembly number, 3446, is found on the left side of the lower tang, under the stock, and it is also found on the stock under the buttplate, along with the mark "95" indicating the model of gunstock it was made for. Also seen on the lower tang side is the marking "XXX". This denoted the grade of wood was to be fancy, and extra care was to be given to the fit and finish of the stock. The extra care given to the stock as well as the fit and finish is evident on number 2205. The walnut selected for stocking this rifle is of the fanciest seen, with full burl on both the forend and stock. The "flow" of the grain is as perfect as possible, and a hole was bored under the buttplate for improved balance.

Winchester’s finest grade checkering is seen on the stock and forend, and a hard rubber grip cap with the Winchester logo was fitted to the pistol grip. The black "ebony" inlay of the forend is original, as are all of the rifle components. Winchester termed the deep gloss finish of this stock and forend "piano finish", and most of the original varnish remains. Crescent buttplates were standard for Model 1895 rifles, as seen here. All are original.

The initial J.P.P. and ‘VP" marks are discussed in the text. Serial numbers, as seen here, will be found only on barrels of very special guns or those with unusual barrels.

A Lyman front sight with an ivory bead was furnished, and the rear sight is the standard sporting rear with serrated edges.

For the Model ’95, caliber 30 ARMY, (30-40) was considered the standard caliber and in a count made in the 1930’s when all of the receivers were available, it was found that three quarters of this model chambered the 30 U.S. (Krag).

The assembly number and "XXX". This number of "X" indicates special fancy wood as well as very special fit and finish to the wood and metal parts.

The chamber of number 2205, the .38-72 was discontinued in 1909 and is rarely seen.

Winchester’s standard bright blue was the finish on the steel and iron parts of number 2205, with the buttplate, hammer and lever links case hardened.

Traces of the case-hardening color remains on these parts, and most of the original blue is seen on the blued parts. The components seen here show the extra "mirror" polish of Winchester highest polish.

Number 2205 is an outstanding and rare Winchester.

With the age of over a century, unusually fine condition, rare caliber and deluxe features, it is a star in the rare Winchesters.

From the collection of Clarence Robertson.

While serial numbers appear to be engraved in script numerals, they were stamped.

In this serial range assembly numbers were not used except on guns with pistol grips, no assembly number was used on this straight grip rifle. On the front of the stock is stamped the letter "E", which was the mark of the stock fitter and assembler.

Earlier guns did not have caliber markings; only the 45-75 W.C.F. cartridge was chambered in the earlier 1876 model. With the introduction of other calibers, elevators were marked, as were barrels.

Because of the special inscribed sideplate, assembly number "90" was stamped on the right sideplate; a number enabled Winchester to assemble to the correct gun, and numbers on sideplates are found only on special guns.

Twenty-eight inch round barrels were standard for the 1876 model’ this rifles has an octagon barrel in the standard length. In higher serial series such as this octagon barrels had a more rapid taper than those of earlier rifles.

For the 1876, caliber .45-75 W.C.F. was considered standard, and the caliber .40-60 on this rifle was less frequently ordered.

Full magazines, as seen here, were standard, as were crescent buttplates.
A special order Lyman front sight was factory fitted to this rifle. The rear barrel mounted sight is correct, and is the style Winchester called the adjustable leaf sight. It is graded from 2 to 10 and is also marked "1876".

Most of the rear adjustable leaf sights were marked as to the date the sight was developed.

The tang peep sight is of the early style, made by Lyman. It has fine knurling and a heavy base, correct for a rifle made at the time this gun was made. The spring under the sight has the correct marking "76".
Special order sights are relatively rare on early Winchesters, since most gun buyers were satisfied with the standard Winchester sights.

Select straight grain walnut was used for stocking this rifle, and it remains in good condition.

This is the Beeches front sight, a special order feature on this rifle.	The inscription "J.A.Vanderpoel" was done in the Winchester engraving shop, probably by John Ulrich.

From the collection of Tom Selleck