GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
SCARCE DELUXE MARLIN MODEL 1893 SPECIAL ORDER LEVER ACTION RIFLE.MARLIN189318494430-30MODERN; C&RCal. 30-30. Fine deluxe Marlin with 26" oct bbl, full magazine Lyman gold bead front sight and 2-leaf Lyman 6A rear sight. Top flat of bbl has standard 2-line address & patent dates and top left flat is marked "Special Smokeless Steel". Top flat of receiver is marked "MARLIN SAFETY" and top tang is marked "MODEL / 1893" mounted with very highly figured, center crotch, flame grain American walnut with F-style checkered forearm and serpentine grip buttstock that has an "M.F.A.Co." embossed hard rubber buttplate. Toe of buttplate and correspondingly in the wood has a small chip. Left side of top tang, under the wood is marked with matching SN which is also found in top tang channel of buttstock. Receiver is color case hardened and beautifully engraved by Conrad Ulrich in no. 5 pattern which consist of a large oval vignette of a whitetail buck and doe in a detailed forest scene surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns that have fine pearled background. Both sides of receiver are outlined in latch hook and scallop border patterns. Right side and flat side of bolt are engraved in matching foliate arabesque patterns with a foliate spray back of loading gate recess. Each side of the lever boss is engraved to match. Bottom of receiver is engraved with a small matching arabesque pattern. Matching border patterns and engraving extend over top of receiver, top tang, each side of forend cap and about 2" of the exposed five flats of the bbl over the chamber area. While the model 1893 was produced in fairly large numbers, extremely few were ordered deluxe and of those exceedingly few were engraved. Color case hardened receivers rarely survive with any colors due to the fact that exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet rays rapidly fades the colors to gray. Consequently finding one with high orig finish is a great rarity. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl and magazine tube retain about 98% strong orig blue with only faint sharp edge wear and a couple of small scratches. Receiver and bolt retain most of their orig case colors, strong in sheltered areas moderately faded elsewhere and turned silver on the bottom. Hammer retains about 85% bright case colors and lever, strong case colors on sides, turned silver on outer faces. Wood, with the aforementioned chipped toe is otherwise sound with a few minor nicks and scratches a small chip on the grip cap and overall retains virtually all of its orig factory varnish. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore. 52215-1 JRL (10,000-14,000)