GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
EXTREMELY RARE CONRAD ULRICH FACTORY ENGRAVED DELUXE MODEL 1893 TAKEDOWN MARLIN LEVER ACTION RIFLE WITH EXTRAORDINARILY RARE BIRD'S EYE MAPLE STOCK INSCRIBED "D. M. HAZLETON" IN EXTREMELY FINE CONDITION.MARLIN1893 TAKEDOWN22535330-30MODERN; C&RCal. 30-30. Spectacular Marlin rifle with 24" oct bbl, full magazine, German silver front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight with large loop Lyman tang sight. Takedown locking cam has the medium length feature. Rifle is mounted with phenomenal rare beautifully grained bird's eye maple with serpentine pistol grip buttstock and classic Marlin crescent steel buttplate. Buttstock is correctly numbered to gun. Receiver is engraved by Conrad Ulrich, though unsigned, which consists of the large oval vignette of a standing "Hartford" stag in a forest scene on left side and a grizzly bear over his kill in a forest scene on right side. These vignettes are surrounded by artistically empty decorative panels which are themselves surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns with fine punch dot background. Top left edge of receiver is factory inscribed in period script "D.M. Hazleton" and the top flat of receiver is marked "MARLIN SAFETY". Engraving patterns extend over the top front of the receiver, back of hammer slot, bottom front of receiver, sides of lever and takedown ring with matching patterns on buttplate tang. Light engraved patterns also extend over the exposed flats of the bbl over chamber area. Side & rear end of bolt are engraved to match and there are various border patterns around the engraving. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle as a takedown in caliber 30-30 with 24" oct bbl, shipped June 18, 1901. This is a typical Marlin letter which almost never mentions any extras. Dallas M. Hazleton (1878-1934) found spelled Hazelton or Hazleton passed the bar of New York in Gouverneur, NY in 1901, the year this gun was shipped. He went on to be an attorney and judge. Unfortunately neither work shop or order records for Marlins have never been found. According to the book Marlin Firearms, Brophy, bird's eye maple stocks were special order but "The few examples of bird's-eye maple observed indicate that this type of wood was not the choice of many sportsmen." Birds eye maple may have not been popular among buyers or maybe it was just too expensive; regardless this is a stunning and rare maple stocked exquisitely engraved piece of art. PROVENANCE: Ex-Frank Kelley Collection; Ex-Wes Adams Collection. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. Bbl and magazine tube retain about 98% strong orig factory blue with only faint muzzle edge wear and a very minor tiny nick or two. Receiver retains most of its orig case colors, moderately faded, stronger in sheltered areas especially on the left side. Lever retains strong case colors on sides and front recess with the balance fading to silver. Hammer retains strong bright case colors, faded to silver on top edge. Takedown ring & cam have silvered case colors as does the buttplate. Wood is sound with a few minor handling and use nicks and scratches and retains just about all of its orig factory varnish, slightly crazed on grip area and near the buttplate. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 50412-23 JR (30,000-60,000)