RARE PRESENTATION INSCRIBED & ENGRAVED DELUXE MARLIN MODEL 1881 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

SN 17132. Cal. 45-70. Fine deluxe rifle with scarce 24″ oct bbl, half magazine, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight & semi-buckhorn rear sight. Top flat of bbl has 3rd type markings and color case hardened receiver is 2nd type without rebate in the bottom front. Mounted with very highly figured European walnut with early B-style checkered forearm and serpentine capped pistol grip stock and smooth steel semi-crescent buttplate. Left side of upper & lower tangs, front face of buttstock, under the wood, and inside the buttplate are all matching numbered to this rifle. Receiver is beautifully engraved, probably by Conrad Ulrich, with the large inscription on the left side “W. Scott Jr.” and “The Highland kicker” on the right side. Both vignettes are surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns with a line border and heart decorations. Bottom & top of receiver and top tang have matching engraving. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum/Marlin Firearms Co. letter which identifies this rifle in caliber 45-70 with 24″ bbl, pistol grip & half magazine, shipped July 5, 1887. No mention is made of the deluxe checkered wood, engraving or inscriptions which is typical of Marlin letters. Additionally accompanied by a copy of the ledger book page encompassing this serial number which also lists a duplicate serial number in caliber 45-70 with 32″ bbl and single trigger. Shipped May 9, 1887. There is also a letter from the museum on this 2nd rifle with duplicate number. According to the book Marlin Firearms, Brophy, of the approx. 20,000 Models 1881 produced, there were about 4,769 in caliber 45 and only 2,788 with 24″ bbls ranging over the entire production. Of those totals, extremely few were engraved and incredibly few were inscribed. Conversation with a person who possesses personal knowledge of this rifle disclosed that the person “W. Scott, Jr.” was a millionaire from New York whose daughter had married a man from Holyoke, MA, a champion “Foot Fighter” (The Highland Kicker) of that era. Mr. Scott reportedly donated 80 acres of land to the city for a park. Further research may provide insight into the identity of Scott and the significance of this rare rifle. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Bbl retains about 98% crisp orig blue with only faint sharp edge wear; magazine tube also retains about 98% slightly thinned orig blue; receiver, lever, hammer & forend cap retain virtually all of their orig case colors, though faded as it appears the receiver was never varnished; outer faces of lever have turned silver; buttplate has also turned silver. Loading gate retains all of its vibrant fire blue finish and is unmarked. Stock has a couple of tiny chips back of the top tang, otherwise wood is sound showing light diamond point wear, a few nicks & scratches and overall retains virtually all of its crisp orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore; shows very little, if any use. 4-51296 (35,000-55,000) – Lot 2129

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Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2129	$63,250.00	RARE PRESENTATION INSCRIBED & ENGRAVED DELUXE MARLIN MODEL 1881 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 17132. Cal. 45-70. Fine deluxe rifle with scarce 24″ oct bbl, half magazine, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight & semi-buckhorn rear sight. Top flat of bbl has 3rd type markings and color case hardened receiver is 2nd type without rebate in the bottom front. Mounted with very highly figured European walnut with early B-style checkered forearm and serpentine capped pistol grip stock and smooth steel semi-crescent buttplate. Left side of upper & lower tangs, front face of buttstock, under the wood, and inside the buttplate are all matching numbered to this rifle. Receiver is beautifully engraved, probably by Conrad Ulrich, with the large inscription on the left side “W. Scott Jr.” and “The Highland kicker” on the right side. Both vignettes are surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns with a line border and heart decorations. Bottom & top of receiver and top tang have matching engraving. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum/Marlin Firearms Co. letter which identifies this rifle in caliber 45-70 with 24″ bbl, pistol grip & half magazine, shipped July 5, 1887. No mention is made of the deluxe checkered wood, engraving or inscriptions which is typical of Marlin letters. Additionally accompanied by a copy of the ledger book page encompassing this serial number which also lists a duplicate serial number in caliber 45-70 with 32″ bbl and single trigger. Shipped May 9, 1887. There is also a letter from the museum on this 2nd rifle with duplicate number. According to the book Marlin Firearms, Brophy, of the approx. 20,000 Models 1881 produced, there were about 4,769 in caliber 45 and only 2,788 with 24″ bbls ranging over the entire production. Of those totals, extremely few were engraved and incredibly few were inscribed. Conversation with a person who possesses personal knowledge of this rifle disclosed that the person “W. Scott, Jr.” was a millionaire from New York whose daughter had married a man from Holyoke, MA, a champion “Foot Fighter” (The Highland Kicker) of that era. Mr. Scott reportedly donated 80 acres of land to the city for a park. Further research may provide insight into the identity of Scott and the significance of this rare rifle. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Bbl retains about 98% crisp orig blue with only faint sharp edge wear; magazine tube also retains about 98% slightly thinned orig blue; receiver, lever, hammer & forend cap retain virtually all of their orig case colors, though faded as it appears the receiver was never varnished; outer faces of lever have turned silver; buttplate has also turned silver. Loading gate retains all of its vibrant fire blue finish and is unmarked. Stock has a couple of tiny chips back of the top tang, otherwise wood is sound showing light diamond point wear, a few nicks & scratches and overall retains virtually all of its crisp orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore; shows very little, if any use. 4-51296 (35,000-55,000) – Lot 2129 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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RARE PRESENTATION INSCRIBED & ENGRAVED DELUXE MARLIN MODEL 1881 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.