GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
SCARCE SPECIAL ORDER DELUXE MARLIN MODEL 1889 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. MARLIN 1889 66319 38-40 Cal 38 WCF (38-40). Beautiful deluxe Marlin 1889 with special order 28" oct bbl, full magazine silver bead sporting front sight and Marlin semi-buckhorn rear sight. Mounted with European walnut that has A-style checkered forearm & serpentine grip buttstock with crescent buttplate. Left side of upper tang, under the wood is marked with matching SN which is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. According to Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms there were about 55,072 Model 1889s produced 1889-1899, of that total 18,635 were in caliber 38-40 and only 2,268 made with 28" bbls. Extrapolating the numbers shows that only about 766 were in caliber 38-40 with 28" bbls. The Model 1889 was Marlin's first production of a side eject receiver which was a major deviation from all of the previous lever action repeaters, both Marlin & Winchester, which had top eject design. The side eject design made for a stronger receiver which also kept out dirt & debris making it less likely to have a jammed rifle. The Model 1888 and 1889 Marlin's were direct competition for the venerable Winchester Model 1873 and were very popular both on the western frontier and the great forests of the north and northeast areas of the U.S. as well as into Canada. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching. Bbl, magazine tube and forend cap retain about 98-99% crisp orig blue. Receiver retains about 93-95% strong orig blue with most of the losses on the left side from light cleaning and candy striping. Top of the receiver has a few light freckles of surface rust. Hammer retains dark case colors. Lever retains bright case colors on the sides, fading to gray on outer faces. Buttplate retains faded case colors with heavy pitting on the heel & toe. Wood is sound with a couple of minor dings and overall retains most of its bright orig finish. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore. 51762-6 JRL (5,000-8,000)