GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
EXTREMELY RARE DELUXE ENGRAVED MARLIN 1ST MODEL 1891 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.MARLIN18915182822: Cal. 22. Very rare color case hardened and engraved deluxe ’91 Marlin that has 24” oct bbl, 2/3rds magazine, standard fixed bbl sights and Lyman tang sight. Mounted with very highly figured, center crotch, flame grain American walnut with B-style checkering and serpentine grip with crescent butt. Buttstock and buttplate are matching numbered to this rifle. Receiver is engraved by Conrad Ulrich in #3 style which consists of the large oval vignette of a running whitetail buck on the left side and the small round vignette of a doe deer on the right side, both surrounded by fine foliate arabesque patterns and latch-hook borders, front and rear. Top & bottom of receiver, top tang and top 3 flats of the bbl are engraved to match. These early loading gate small bore rifles are almost never found in deluxe configuration and engraved examples are exceedingly rare, especially those with color case hardened receivers. Accompanied by two Cody Firearms Museum letters; one dated 2003 and the other 2005. The 2005 letter identifies this rifle in 22 Cal. with 24” bbl and pistol grip, shipped August 7, 1891, returned & repaired October 16, 1903. The 2003 letter reports only 22 Cal. and pistol grip. Pictured on page 535 of Col. Brophy''s book on Marlins. CONDITION: Very fine+, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain about 98% fine orig blue, slightly dulled on the magazine tube. Receiver retains about 80% strong case colors on the sides, more faded on the top and mostly turned silver on the bottom with bright colors in sheltered areas. Lever, hammer and buttplate retain faded case colors. Wood is sound with light nicks and scratches and retains virtually all of orig varnish on buttstock and about 85% on forearm. Mechanics are fine. Strong bore with good shine and moderate pitting. Only a handful of engraved 1st Model 1891s are known to exist. 49121-3 JR (20,000-30,000)