December 20th 2014 Firearms (34)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/19/2014
Serial No. 24991. Offered is this amazing little presentation Marlin Ballard S.S. ladies rifle. This rifle is fully factory engraved. The left panel inscribed "Hattie B. Wilson". Hattie Wilson was a well known and documented proprietress of a house of ill- repute in Salt Lake City, Utah at the end of the 19th century. The house resided at 53 Franklin Avenue and on July 4th 1891 a disturbance at the residence led to the dismissal of the chief of police, detectives, and patrol officer, thus ending her reign of protection. There is ample historical information detailing the pursuits of Hattie Wilson and others at "Prostitution Polygamy and Power Salt Lake City, 1847-1918". The rifle itself is a beautifully made high grade Marlin Ballard single shot rifle in .32 caliber and features 24" half octagon half round barrel, deluxe engraved walnut stock in beautiful condition with a hard rubber squirrel buttplate. The barrel is a lovely smooth blue-brown patina and may have had a light coat of cold blue wiped over it. Stocks are superb. Fine factory engraving on the entire receiver with the majority of the original nickel plating faded to gun metal grey. It sports an original tang rear sight and a flip up globe front with no rear barrel sight cut. Strong bore with some minor roughness. Perfect action. Wonderful all original rifle with rarely seen deluxe presentation in a special order deluxe ladies rifle and colorful storied Western history.