GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
EXTREMELY RARE SPECIAL ORDER 1ST MODEL 1891 MARLIN LEVER ACTION RIFLE.MARLIN18914844822Cal. 22. Standard grade rifle with 24” oct bbl., 2/3’s magazine, globe front sight, standard fixed rear sight and sporting tang sight with 4” staff. Mounted with very nicely figured, uncheckered, possibly special ordered American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate. SN is found in usual place on bottom of receiver with matching number on front face of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Accompanied by Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle in Cal. 22 with 24” bbl and shipped March 24, 1891. These early loading gate small bore rifles are almost never found with high orig finish. They generally were considered to be boys or ladies rifles and usually saw very hard service with little or no maintenance. To find one with such high orig finish as this one is an extreme rarity. CONDITION: Extremely fine+, all matching. Overall retains about 98-99% crisp orig factory finish with only faint,sharp edge wear on the receiver and a couple of small nicks on the left side. Hammer retains bright, strong case colors and the lever strong case colors, fading on outer faces. Buttplate retains mostly smoky case colors with a bright spot or two, generally turning silver. Wood is sound with a very few light handling & storage nicks and scratches and overall retains about 99% strong orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp. Brilliant shiny bore, may be unfired. Loading gate retains virtually all of its orig fire blue. 49121-21 JR (10,000-15,000)