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LOT 48
Exceedingly Scarce, Ulrich Factory Master Engraved, and Gold and Platinum Inlaid Marlin Deluxe Model 20 Slide Action Takedown Rifle with Winchester A5 Scope - Serial no. 9124, 22 S L LR cal., 22 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Marlin Model 20 was introduced in 1906 and replaced by the Model 20S and Model 20A following the First World War. Very few of these were engraved, however, a very similar example is pictured on p. 444 of “Marlin Firearms” by Brophy, which he calls “one of the two finest pump action .22 rifles produced by Marlin. Gold and platinum inlays, pristine engraving with No. F-checkered deluxe wood are exceptionally rare.” Note that the pictured rifle actually has less engraving than this example, with this one having engraving on the side of the bolt as well. Another very similar engraved example is pictured on the preceding page of Brophy’s book. This specific rifle, along with those just mentioned were engraved by either Conrad Friedrich Ulrich Jr., who left Marlin in 1910 to work for Winchester, or his son Alden George Ulrich who remained with Marlin from 1905 to c. 1920, before moving to Winchester like his father. The embellishments consist of scrollwork and bands of each gold and platinum on the breech end of the barrel, gold borders around finely detailed games scenes of a pair of rabbits on the right and pair of squirrels on the left, a palmette/shell motif on top of the receiver ring found on many Ulrich engraved rifles along with another pair of platinum and gold bands, fine scrollwork backed by punch dot texture on the balance of the receiver, and additional flourishes of scrollwork on the buttplate and on the barrel at the breech. The serial number is on the left side of the upper tang and is repeated in the upper tang mortise of the stock. The standard two-line Marlin address and patent dates are marked on the top flat of the barrel, with the last few words obscured by the non-factory, period added scope mounting block. The
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upper tang is marked “Marlin/No 20”. There is a rear scope mounting block on top of the receiver with two additional drilled and tapped holes directly in front of it, which have filler screws in place. The scope rings are fitted with a Winchester A5 scope. It is fitted with a Lyman beaded blade front sight (bead absent), two-leaf rear sight, and a peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with an F pattern checkered, very finely figured, deluxe grade slide handle and straight grip stock, befitting such a highly embellished rifle. Includes a custom made glass topped display case and a leather scope cannister.