GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
VERY RARE SPECIAL ORDER MARLIN MODEL 1895 DELUXE ENGRAVED TAKEDOWN LEVER ACTION RIFLE. MARLIN 1895 140978 40-65 Cal. 40-65. Outstanding deluxe rifle with 28" special order oct to rnd bbl (standard was 26"), half magazine, takedown, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight & semi-buckhorn rear sight. Mounted with very highly figured, B-style checkered American walnut with serpentine grip and Ballard style hard rubber buttplate. Receiver is beautifully engraved in #2 style by Conrad Ulrich with the oval vignette of a hound chasing a stag through a woodland scene on the left side and a standing whitetail buck on right side. Both sides have foliate arabesque patterns surrounded by various border patterns. Light matching patterns extend over the top & bottom of the receiver, top tang, takedown ring & forend cap. The 5 exposed flats of the bbl are lightly engraved about 2" forward of the frame. These early big frame Marlins are rarely ever found with high orig finish, usually having been subjected to hard service in the North woods, Great Plains & Rocky Mountain area. They were equally popular in the Northwest Territories and Alaska for big game hunting. Given the incredible orig condition of this rifle it can be speculated with some certainty that it likely belonged to someone of importance who used it very little. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain about 99% strong orig blue with only very faint muzzle end wear and a couple of small nicks on the magazine tube. Receiver retains brilliant case colors on both sides & top with the bottom, at the carry point moderately faded. Hammer retains bright case colors & the lever strong case colors in sheltered areas, turned silver on outer faces. Forend cap is mostly turned silver. Buttstock & buttplate have a tiny dressed chip on the toe, otherwise wood is sound with a few very minor nicks & scratches and overall retains 98-99% strong orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore, appears to be new and unfired with orig grease and a dead ladybug on the bolt face. 49144-1 JR (35,000-50,000)