Manuel said
What do you mean by the term “special”?  Does this mean deluxe or just a special order like extra length barrel?  

Winchester manufactured four different grades (variations) of the Model 1885 Single Shot rifle;

1. Plain Sporting Rifle

2. Special Sporting Rifle

3. Special Single Shot Rifle

4. Schuetzen Rifle

Winchester never referred to the higher grade rifles as “deluxe”.  Each variation was manufactured with a specific set of standard features as listed in the Winchester catalogs.  Specifically, the “Special Single Shot Rifle” was standard with the following features;

1. 30″ No. 3 half-octagon barrel

2. Fancy (3X) H-pattern checkered stocks

3. Pistol Grip & Swiss Cheek Piece butt stock

4. Nickel plated Swiss butt plate

5. No rear sight seat, Mid-range Vernier tang sight and a Winchester Wind Gauge globe

Any other features found would be a special order item (e.g. set trigger, extra length barrel, different size barrel, etc.)

The list price in the April 1900 catalog (No. 65)  for a Special Single Sporting Rifle was $45.00 (versus $30.00 for a Special Sporting Rifle, or $63.00 for a Schuetzen Rifle).

Bert