For your consideration is a very rare, antique production Winchester 1887 Lever Action 12 Gauge Shotgun with rare early three digit serial number: 104, being manufactured in 1887 and shows a deluxe special order finish grade. The rare first year production three-digit serial number shotgun shows a highly figure crotch burl like deluxe wood on both stock and fore stock along with fine hand cut tight deluxe checkering and typical engraved receiver. This model was designed by John Browning and brought Winchester into the forefront of the repeating shotgun business. The 1887 was cherished for its reliability and fire power. Many were used by freight carriers, like Wells Fargo, train guards, prison guards, and lawmen of the West. Sportsmen who were used to handling lever action rifles also found favor with the 1887 lever action shotgun. Most examples found today show very hard frontier and field use and often display considerable abuse and replaced parts. The metal surfaces are smooth and show an uncleaned, dark natural patina on the receiver. The barrel and magazine tube show an attractive full aged blue finish and retains a much better than normally encountered fine bright bore. The Winchester markings and patent dates on the lower tang are correct and sharp, as is the “WRA Co” (Winchester Repeating Arms Company) entwined logo on the left side of the receiver. The screws are in generally excellent condition, showing this gun was rarely, if ever, taken apart. The shotgun retains the original checkered steel shotgun butt plate (these often changed or replaced with rubber recoil pads), the wood is not sanded, and it shows excellent original finish. The wood also displays very tight wood to metal fit, overall. The shotgun also shows correct and original 30” barrel (this was the correct and standard length barrel offered by Winchester for this model). It also retains the original brass bead front sight, mechanically crisp and tight. This 134 year old Winchester is a very difficult historical model to locate in any condition and this one is far above most that have survived to the present. Overall, this is a most attractive, unaltered example that would be at home in the finest firearm, Winchester or Old West collection. Serial Number: 104. This firearm qualifies as an Antique and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.