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This outstanding rifle was manufactured in 1893 and is a superb example of late 19th century Marlin artistry made more desirable with a rear sight designed by well-known Western frontier gunsmith Frank W. Freund. The casehardened receiver is decorated with attractive factory floral scrollwork on a punch dot background, light scroll and line borders and a game scene depicting a stag in a circular panel on the left side. The motif is very similar to Marlin’s No. 1 pattern as illustrated in Brophy’s “Marlin Firearms” on page 531. At the time this rifle was manufactured, famed Master Engraver Conrad Ulrich, who spent a lifetime embellishing some of the finest high art firearms of the late 19th century to early 20th century, did most of the engraving for Marlin, and the embellishment on this rifle certainly follows a standard well-known Ulrich pattern encountered on Marlin arms. The barrel is fitted with a combination Beach front sight and a highly desirable Freund elevation adjustable “V” notch rear sight with insert. Like many in the American firearms industry in the 18th and
19th centuries, the Freund brothers Frank W. and George were German immigrants. They had various temporary shop locations as they followed the Union Pacific Railroad westward and established more permanent shops in Denver, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, where they regularly modified firearms, particularly Sharps rifles, to fit their customer’s needs. They sold rifles to the likes of Philip Sheridan, George Cook, and Theodore Roosevelt. In addition to mechanical alterations and creating new configurations, the Freunds also designed and patented new sights. The rear sight on this rifle is marked “F.W. FREUND/PATENTED.”
LOT 54
Finest Known Casehardened Factory Engraved Marlin Deluxe Model 1889 Lever Action Rifle with Desirable Freund Sight and Factory Letter - Serial no. 82943, 38 WCF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, highly figured checkered walnut stock.