GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
EXTREMELY RARE DELUXE ENGRAVED MARLIN MODEL 39 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.MARLIN39392722IVORYCal. 22. First year production. Blued and color case hardened with 24” tapered oct bbl, full 1897-style magazine, windgage, "certifiable pre-ban ivory" bead combination front sight, express rear sight and locking Lyman combination tang sight. Mounted with very nicely figured, B-style checkered American walnut that has serpentine grip buttstock and first type “Marlin” hard rubber buttplate. Bottom of buttstock has the Marlin black and white bullseye. Buttstock is matching numbered to this rifle. Left side of receiver is engraved by Conrad Ulrich in #3 style consisting of the rnd vignette of a feeding white tail buck surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns with pearled background and latch-hook & heart borders. Right side has full coverage foliate arabesque patterns with matching borders and the central floral vignette identical to the pattern on pg 533 of Marlin Firearms, Brophy. According to Mr. Brophy, the Model 39 rifle was basically a simple continuation of the Model 1897 and was manufactured only from 1922-1936, when it became the Model 39A. CONDITION: Very fine+, all matching. Bbl and magazine tube retain about 97% strong orig blue with only sharp edge wear, a few small nicks and scattered spots of surface rust. Receiver, lever and hammer retain most of their orig case colors; strong on the receiver and brilliant in sheltered areas. Lever has bright colors on the side. Wood is sound with a few small nicks in the varnish, with the buttstock retaining about 97-98% strong orig finish with light oil staining around the wrist. Forearm retains about 60% orig finish. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore. Only a handful of engraved Model 39s are known to exist. 49121-5 JR (8,000-12,000)