GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
SPECTACULAR GOLD AND NICKEL ENGRAVED DELUXE MARLIN MODEL 1889 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.MARLIN18898799138WCF (38-40)IVORYCal. 38 WCF (38-40). Fine, deluxe and scarce Marlin rifle with a total of only 55,119 produced 1889-1903 of which only 18,641 were in Cal. 38 WCF (38-40) and only of these 3,729 had 26” bbls. Of that number, extraordinarily few were engraved and even fewer had special plating. This rifle has 26” oct bbl, full magazine, "certifiable antique ivory" bead combination front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight. It is mounted with B-style checkered, highly figured American walnut with serpentine grip buttstock and crescent buttplate. Receiver and buttplate tang are beautifully engraved in #3 style. Engraving consists of the oval vignette of a running stag on the left side surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns with pearled background and multiple border patterns. Right side of receiver and right side of bolt have full coverage, matching, intertwined foliate arabesque patterns. Top of receiver is engraved in feather and foliate patterns. Matching patterns are also on sides of lever and top tang along with the buttplate tang. Matching SNs were observed on bottom of receiver, left side of top tang under the wood and inside toe of buttplate. Although the stock is unnumbered, there is no doubt whatsoever that this buttstock is orig to this rifle. Receiver is gold-washed over silver plating with the lever, buttplate and forend cap nickel finish. Bbl and magazine tube are blued. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle in cal 38, with oct bbl, shipped Aug. 16, 1894. Extremely few Model 1889 rifles were produced and of those extraordinarily few are in the configuration found here. CONDITION: Fine, all matching except stock as noted. Bbl retains about 90% strong orig blue with scattered spots of light surface rust. Magazine tube retains 88-90% orig blue turning a little plum. Receiver retains 20-25% gold-wash with the balance silver plating showing through. Lever and forend cap retain strong traces of orig nickel and the buttplate shows 60-70% nickel. Wood is sound with a few light nicks and scratches and retains about 95% orig finish that is slightly crazed. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 49285-1 JR (6,000-10,000)