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LOT 3011
Exceptionally Fine Ulrich
Factory No. 3 Relief Panel Scene
Engraved and Silver Inlaid Antique Special
Order Marlin Deluxe Model 1893 Lever Action
Takedown Rifle - Serial no. 131074, 38-55 WCF cal., 26 inch
octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in
1895, this is an exceptional special ordered example of Marlin’s Model 1893,
which was undoubtedly factory master engraved by Conrad F. Ulrich. A student
of the legendary Gustave Young, Ulrich learned his craft from Young working
for Colt, before moving on to Winchester with his two brothers around 1869,
and finally being hired as Master Engraver by Marlin around 1881, engraving
the majority of their high grade arms until 1910. During his employ at Marlin,
Ulrich is widely regarded as having produced some of the finest embellished
American arms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with this particular
example being no exception. The year 1881 not only marked the beginning of
Ulrich’s partnership with Marlin, but also the company’s first entry into the lever
action repeater market with their Model 1881. While many view Marlin as “playing
second fiddle” to Winchester for most of their existence, it is easily argued that
Marlin was producing equal or better quality lever actions that were, more often
than not, technologically one step ahead of whatever Winchester had to offer.
In the realm of fine art arms, the artisans at Marlin also rose to Winchester’s
challenge, showing equal or greater skill in producing high grade, utilizing more
precious metal in inlays, more complex and spectacular carving and checking
patterns, with an emphasis on factory engraving on casehardened surfaces
(much rarer in all models of Winchester Collecting) exemplified perfectly by
Ulrich engraved examples like this one. In many ways, and in typical American
fashion, it was the constant competition between these to iconic companies that
drove them to produce some of the highest quality, most advanced, and most
beautifully embellished arms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries anywhere
in the world. It was this constant pursuit of excellence from both companies that
made their lever action repeaters the desire of anyone who laid eyes on them in
the past and has cemented them as treasured and iconic pieces of Americana to
this day.
This particular Model 1893 takedown rifle is an exceptional example of the skill
of Conrad F. Ulrich as well as the other artisans in Marlin’s employ. The receiver
is masterfully cut by Ulrich’s hand with a variation of Marlin’s No. 3 pattern
engraving featuring a beautiful relief engraved scene of a grazing elk on the left
of the receiver, bordered by a circular non-engraved/negative space band, and
flanked by large panels of flowing floral scrollwork. The right side of the receiver
has near full coverage floral scrollwork along with a fan pattern at the rear of
the loading gate and a pinwheel at the center of the breech block. Depictions of
this pattern showing similar designs can be seen on p. 531 of “Marlin Firearms”
by William Brophy. There are additional fan patterns on the bottom of the
receiver and takedown collar, and the scrollwork continues on the sides of the
lever lug, sides of the takedown collar, top of the receiver and upper tang, sides
of the forearm cap, and sides of the lever. The breech end of the barrel is silver
banded with light flourishes of floral scroll as well as bands/geometric pattern
and a serpentine scroll inlaid with much-tarnished German silver. Regarding the
engraving at the
breech of the barrel
on this rifle, it is worth
noting the similarities
in the scrollwork and
placement at the
breech with that of
the engraving carried
out on Winchester’s
“One of 1,000”
and other highly
embellished rifles,
much of which was
executed by Conrad’s
brother, John Ulrich,
who is said to have
learned the craft
from Conrad during
their time together at
Colt. These particular
instances of engraving
show a crossover
between the two
iconic companies, as
well as a connection between
two brothers who were both considered masters of their craft. The matching
serial number is on the bottom of the receiver, left side of the upper tang (along
with “55”), and stamped in the stock inlet. It is fitted with a Lyman beaded blade
front sight, Lyman two-leaf rear sight, and a Lyman No. 1 combination peep sight
mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a nicely figured, Marlin “No. C”
fleur-de-lis pattern checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with a checkered
hard rubber shotgun buttplate.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 90% plus of the original blue finish, 85% of
the vibrant original case colors, and 75% of the original nitre blue on the loading
gate with some light edge wear, a few scattered light handling marks, some faint
thinning on the magazine tube, and the balance of case colors having silvered.
The engraving remains crisp throughout. The wood is very fine with scattered
minor dings and scratches, the checkering mostly crisp, and retaining most of
the original varnish. Mechanically excellent. A fantastic example of the artistry
of Conrad F. Ulrich on the “canvas” of an exceptionally fine, deluxe Marlin Model
1893 takedown rifle!
Estimate: 65,000 - 95,000
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