ULTRA RARE PROTOTYPE FOR THE MARLIN MODEL 1888 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

ULTRA RARE PROTOTYPE FOR THE MARLIN MODEL 1888 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). NSN. Wonderful light weight rifle with 28″ oct bbl, front sight missing the Rocky Mountain blade, with a semi-buckhorn rear sight. Only mark on the entire rifle is “L.L. HEPBURN” on the top flat between the rear sight & receiver. It is mounted with uncheckered very highly figured streaky French walnut with straight stock & semi-crescent steel buttplate. Receiver, lever & hammer are case colored with a concave top ejecting bolt. This exact rifle is pictured on pp. 163 & 164 of Marlin Firearms, Brophy wherein it is stated that this is the prototype rifle. Brophy also states that there were only 4,814 of this model produced in 1888 making it one of the shortest production Marlin rifles in history. This is the smoothest & most easily operated lever action rifle this cataloguer has ever had the pleasure to handle & examine. CONDITION: This wonderful & rare rifle remains in extremely fine condition with the bbl retaining 96-97% strong bright orig blue. Magazine tube retains about the same amount of bright orig blue. Receiver, lever & hammer retain most of their orig bright case colors beginning to fade to silver around the front edge of the receiver & outside edges of the lever. Buttplate retains 40-50% faded case colors with the bottom half turning silver. Wood is sound with minor nicks & handling marks with a small gouge & a couple of bruises on the comb & retains most of its bright orig piano finish varnish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-57440 (45,000-65,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005

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
	4242	$51,750.00	ULTRA RARE PROTOTYPE FOR THE MARLIN MODEL 1888 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). NSN. Wonderful light weight rifle with 28″ oct bbl, front sight missing the Rocky Mountain blade, with a semi-buckhorn rear sight. Only mark on the entire rifle is “L.L. HEPBURN” on the top flat between the rear sight & receiver. It is mounted with uncheckered very highly figured streaky French walnut with straight stock & semi-crescent steel buttplate. Receiver, lever & hammer are case colored with a concave top ejecting bolt. This exact rifle is pictured on pp. 163 & 164 of Marlin Firearms, Brophy wherein it is stated that this is the prototype rifle. Brophy also states that there were only 4,814 of this model produced in 1888 making it one of the shortest production Marlin rifles in history. This is the smoothest & most easily operated lever action rifle this cataloguer has ever had the pleasure to handle & examine. CONDITION: This wonderful & rare rifle remains in extremely fine condition with the bbl retaining 96-97% strong bright orig blue. Magazine tube retains about the same amount of bright orig blue. Receiver, lever & hammer retain most of their orig bright case colors beginning to fade to silver around the front edge of the receiver & outside edges of the lever. Buttplate retains 40-50% faded case colors with the bottom half turning silver. Wood is sound with minor nicks & handling marks with a small gouge & a couple of bruises on the comb & retains most of its bright orig piano finish varnish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-57440 (45,000-65,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005 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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