REMARKABLY RARE DELUXE FACTORY ENGRAVED MARLIN FIRST MODEL 1891 RIFLE

REMARKABLY RARE DELUXE FACTORY ENGRAVED MARLIN FIRST MODEL 1891 RIFLE

01-25288
Cal. 22 RF
S# 51828

This rifle can be a rare edition to the most advanced of collections. It is fitted with a 24-inch octagonal barrel, 2/3 magazine, blade front sight, fixed V notch rear sight, & Lyman combination tang sight. The early first model 1891 small bore rifles such as this one utilize a side loading gate that was omitted on later models. The rare case colored receiver is decorated with an attractive No. 2 style engraving pattern by Conrad Ulrich. It features a large oval vignette containing a woodland scene including a whitetail buck at a full run on the left face and a round vignette with a doe deer on the right laying in a detailed flowered field. Both are surrounded with a fine foliate scroll engraving and fancy borders that continue to the upper areas with accents in the lower areas. The bolt is decorated with a floral center piece and flares of matching scroll engraving. Breech end of the barrel has a complimenting scroll on three of the barrel flats. It has a flame grain American walnut stock set with factory B style checkered serpentine pistol grip butt & matching forearm that are terminated with a smooth case colored crescent steel buttplate and nose cap. The rifle is accompanied with 2 Cody Firearms Museum Letters. The first is dated 2003 and reads, “22 caliber / Pistol Grip / Return & Repair October 17, 1903 / Shipped from the company August 17, 1891”. The second letter dated 2005 provides the same information, however the barrel length was added “Barrel Length: 24 inches”. The repair that was performed in 1903 likely included a barrel replacement as the current factory barrel that is mounted has an 1892 patent date. Despite the possible factory barrel change this rare example would fit in the most advanced of collections as it is believed that there are only a very few engraved case colored Marlin 1891 rifles in existence.
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: 2 Cody Museum Records.

PROVENANCE: William Blount Collection of Extraordinary Marlins

STATUS: ANTIQUE