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This Marlin Model 1893 in particular represents both the
pinnacle of high art firearms produced by the Marlin factory as
well as a fleeting opportunity in both Marlin and high grade
19th century arms collecting. The rifle exhibits Marlin’s No. 5-3
engraving pattern, one of the most rarely seen today, with
the addition of special order gold and platinum inlays. It is
estimated that around ten of Marlin’s No. 5-4 pattern engraving
featuring the “Monarch of the Glen” stag design are seen to
every one of the No. 5-3 pattern, making this an incredibly
scarce rifle. The engraving encompasses nearly all the surfaces
of the action and its components, with a detailed scene of a bull
and cow moose in a forest on the left and a bounding whitetail
buck on the right, both surrounded by highly attractive oak leaf
and acorn clusters on a punchdot background. A snarling wolf’s
head is engraved on the bottom of the action, surrounded by
flourishes of more traditional American scroll. The flourishes
of American scroll continue on top of the action, the lever, the
takedown collar, the breech end of the barrel, and the forend
cap. All of these areas are accented and outlined with inlays of
fine gold wire, including on the sides of the hammer, and there
are additional platinum bands on the barrel at the breech and
at the transition point of the barrel from octagon to round. The
top flat of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line Marlin
address and patent dates, as well as the caliber marking at the
breech. The upper left flat is hand engraved with “Special Steel”
and the top of the action has the standard “MARLIN SAFETY”
marking. The upper tang has the model marking under the peep
sight and the serial number is marked on the bottom of the
receiver. It is fitted with a gold washed Beach combination front
sight, a filler in the rear sight dovetail, and a Lyman combination
peep sight on the upper tang, all of which were likely special
ordered from the factory. It is mounted with a highly figured
forearm and incredibly figured pistol grip stock that is fitted with
a checkered, hard rubber Marlin buttplate.
The wood shows a very
intricate, special ordered,
high grade checkering pattern
featuring spade shapes at the wrist and
forearm near the receiver, dagging patterns on
the front of the forearm and pistol grip, a fine ribbon
through the wrist area, and non-checkered ovals on both the
wrist and forearm grip areas. This checkering pattern is believed
to have never been specifically listed in Marlin catalogs, though
it is believed to have been shown in their 1899 catalog on rifles
exhibiting No. 5 engraving. The rifle stands as a testament to
the craftsmanship, artistry, and quality of the Marlin Firearms
Company, as well as the artisans that worked there.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 97% plus of the original blue
finish on the barrel with some slight thinning on the magazine
tube. 95% plus of the vibrant, original case colors remain, and
97% plus of the original nitre blue remains on the loading gate.
There are some very light brown speckles on the breech of the
barrel and bottom of the takedown collar. The wood is also
excellent with a few scattered light handling marks, nearly all
the original varnish retained, and the checkering and carving
remaining crisp overall. A small chip at the toe of the buttplate
has been reattached using a small screw. Mechanically excellent.
This spectacular Model 1893 rifle finds itself among a very select
field of fine arms, representing not only high art, but also the
magnum opus of the artisans of Marlin Firearms Company,
as well as a tangible embodiment of 19th century American
craftsmanship!
Provenance: This is a one-gun consignment, cared for and
passed down by the same Connecticut family for generations.
Estimate: 120,000 - 275,000
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