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LOT 48
Outstanding Factory Engraved Marlin Deluxe Model 1892 Lever Action Rifle - Serial no. 139078,
32 cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, highly figured checkered walnut stock. Offered here is a seldom encountered Marlin factory engraved Model 1892 rifle in .32 RF/CF looking as if it left the factory yesterday. The vibrant casehardened receiver is decorated with Conrad Ulrich’s No. 3 engraving pattern featuring wonderful scrollwork, punch dot backgrounds, scroll and heart borders, a large oval vignette of a buck and doe in a woodland scene on the left side, and a large flower blossom medallion
in the center of the right side. Additional scrollwork is featured on the exposed barrel flats at the breech, forend cap and buttplate tang. Conrad Ulrich did most of the engraving for Marlin circa 1881 to 1910, and the Marlin engraving patterns are based on Ulrich’s designs. The rifle is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and an elevation adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight. The top barrel flat is stamped with the two-line Marlin address/patent dates legend ahead of the rear sight. The top of the receiver is marked “MARLIN SAFETY.” The receiver, hammer, lever, forend cap, and buttplate are casehardened. The barrel and magazine tube are blued. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured deluxe walnut and feature Marlin No. B type checkering. The buttstock is fitted with a crescent buttplate. Matching serial number
on the underside of the frame, stock inlet and buttplate. The accompanying photocopy of a factory letter confirms the 24 inch octagon barrel in .32 caliber and pistol grip stock. The factory letter also states the rifle was shipped on February 5, 1897. Although not confirmed by the factory letter, the engraving and deluxe checkered pistol grip stock are most certainly factory. As noted Marlin expert William Brophy explained, “Unfortunately, the few remaining factory records do not, with any regularity, indicate if the gun was factory engraved or not.”