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LOT 3551
Michael J. Barret Made Prototype Marlin 1/2 Scale .22 LR Thompson Style Semi-Automatic Rifle Serial Number 001 -
Serial no. 001, 22 LR cal., 16 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Manufactured by Michael J. Barrett, who is best known
for his 1/2 scale replicas of Winchester rifles. According to an included framed letter, this .22 LR chambered M1928A1 Thompson
style prototype rifle was designed by Barrett under contract for Marlin Firearms. However, before the rifle was completed Marlin canceled the
contract. Despite that, Barrett completed this prototype rifle as the only example of its kind manufactured. With all metal surfaces left bright, it mimics
several features of the M1928A1 Thompson sub-machine gun, including the sights (fixed brass bead blade and peep rear), Cutts style compensator,
charging handle, and furniture. The receiver is laser engraved “MARLIN/NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.” on the right side and “EXPT/FOR/MARLIN/NO. 001” on
the underside ahead of the magazine well, along with Barrett’s personal mark “MB.” The barrel was cut and modified from a Remington Model 550-1, with the original roll marks visible under the forend. The
action is fed from a 25 round rotary magazine, which is secured via a set screw and requires the action to be partially separated and the bolt held back to remove. To fire, a round button on the right side of the
lower frame must be depressed in order to release the striker, serving as an unusual sort of grip safety. A truly one of a kind Marlin prototype rifle that bears a strong resemblance to the larger Thompson machine gun it was modeled after, along with novel features of its own.
CONDITION: Excellent overall for a experimental prototype left bright, with light handling marks, tooling marks, and some light spotting. Mechanically excellent. Arguably one of the scarcest Marlin firearms ever offered. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
The magazine slides into the receiver sideways from the left side only,
and is secured with a falling lever. The bolt is fitted with a knurled M1921
style cocking pieces protruding from the top of the receiver, and the bolt can
be secured to the rear via the punch dot push safety tab on the left side of the trigger housing. Fitted with finely figured Thompson style finger groove front grip, smooth pistol grip, and smooth buttstock fitted with a smooth steel buttplate. CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 90% plus blue finish with light handling marks
and moderate scattered spotting. Mechanically excellent. A desirable rifle not only for collectors of Marlin firearms but for those of the Thompson as well.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 3552
Prototype Marlin Model 1921 .22 LR
Thompson Style Semi-Automatic Rifle - Serial no. EX02, 22 LR cal.,
16 1/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Modeled after the classic Thompson Model 1921 submachine gun in 2/3rds scale, in similar fashion to the rifle in the previous lot, but complete with blue finish. Features fixed blade front and elevation adjustable peep rear sights. The barrel is fitted with a Cutts style compensator and a finned profile similar to the full size Model 1921. The right side of the receiver is laser engraved “MARLIN/NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.” and “MODEL 1921/ CALIBER .22LR” on the left. Includes a rounded front metal magazine marked “STANDARD MANUFACTURING CO./NEWINGTON, CT. USA/ CALIBER .22LR/10 ROUNDS.”
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