EXTREMELY RARE, ONE OF A KIND MARLIN PROTOTYPE RIFLE.

EXTREMELY RARE, ONE OF A KIND MARLIN PROTOTYPE RIFLE. Cal. 45-70. NSN. Only mark on entire rifle is on top of receiver in tiny letters “L.L. HEPBURN”. Rifle is in 1889 configuration with 26-1/8″ oct bbl, full magazine, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight & semi-buckhorn rear sight. It has uncheckered, very nicely figured, American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate. Receiver is built like a scaled-up Model 1889 with flat side bolt that has a guide rail in top edge that meshes with a notch in receiver. It has straight lever with visible locking lug extension that meshes into a notch in lever. Lever also has the 1889 style lock at toe & short curl 1889 style hammer. This style of side eject Marlin was principally the idea of Marlin’s genius inventor, Lewis L. Hepburn. Marlin was, at that time, still making the Model 1881 lever action rifle in 45-70 so it is apparent that when Mr. Hepburn designed the Model 1889, which was made only in the short hand gun sized cartridges, he made this rifle as a prototype which obviously evolved into the Model 1895. This is a one of a kind & until recently completely unknown. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 95-97% strong bright orig blue with only very faint edge wear & some flecks of light patina. Magazine tube retains about 95-96% strong orig finish turning plum. Receiver retains most of its orig finish mixed with flaked light patina turning plum on top. Lever retains 60-70% case colors, strong in sheltered areas, turning to silver patina elsewhere. Hammer retains about all of its dark case colors. Top tang is a light brown patina & buttplate a silver/brown patina. Wood is sound with usual handling & use light nicks & scratches with forearm retaining about 70% orig varnish & buttstock about 95% with some oil staining around wrist. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore. A once in a lifetime opportunity to own a large frame prototype Marlin. 4-56588 JR581 (25,000-40,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2006

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
	368	$37,375.00	EXTREMELY RARE, ONE OF A KIND MARLIN PROTOTYPE RIFLE. Cal. 45-70. NSN. Only mark on entire rifle is on top of receiver in tiny letters “L.L. HEPBURN”. Rifle is in 1889 configuration with 26-1/8″ oct bbl, full magazine, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight & semi-buckhorn rear sight. It has uncheckered, very nicely figured, American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate. Receiver is built like a scaled-up Model 1889 with flat side bolt that has a guide rail in top edge that meshes with a notch in receiver. It has straight lever with visible locking lug extension that meshes into a notch in lever. Lever also has the 1889 style lock at toe & short curl 1889 style hammer. This style of side eject Marlin was principally the idea of Marlin’s genius inventor, Lewis L. Hepburn. Marlin was, at that time, still making the Model 1881 lever action rifle in 45-70 so it is apparent that when Mr. Hepburn designed the Model 1889, which was made only in the short hand gun sized cartridges, he made this rifle as a prototype which obviously evolved into the Model 1895. This is a one of a kind & until recently completely unknown. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 95-97% strong bright orig blue with only very faint edge wear & some flecks of light patina. Magazine tube retains about 95-96% strong orig finish turning plum. Receiver retains most of its orig finish mixed with flaked light patina turning plum on top. Lever retains 60-70% case colors, strong in sheltered areas, turning to silver patina elsewhere. Hammer retains about all of its dark case colors. Top tang is a light brown patina & buttplate a silver/brown patina. Wood is sound with usual handling & use light nicks & scratches with forearm retaining about 70% orig varnish & buttstock about 95% with some oil staining around wrist. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore. A once in a lifetime opportunity to own a large frame prototype Marlin. 4-56588 JR581 (25,000-40,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2006 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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