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LOT 3028
Antique Factory Panel Scene Engraved Special Order Marlin Deluxe Model 1895 Lever Action Takedown Rifle in Highly
Desirable .45-90 W.C.F. with Factory Letter - Serial no. 140948, 45-90 WCF cal., 28 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut stock. Manufactured in 1896, this is a very fine example of a special ordered, factory engraved Marlin deluxe Model 1895 rifle in the
highly desirable and powerful .45-90 W.C.F. The included factory letter lists the rifle in .45-90 caliber with a 28 inch half octagon barrel, half
magazine, takedown, and with a pistol grip stock when shipped on 21 October 1896. These rugged Marlin rifles, particularly chambered in
powerful calibers like the .45-90, remained popular in the American West well into the 20th century due to their dependability and ability
to neutralize essentially any danger one might face in the wilds of the frontier. Marlin factory letters are notorious for not listing factory
engraving, with this example undoubtedly being 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. Ulrich, as noted by William Brophy on page 533 of “Marlin Firearms,” executed almost all
of the engraving on Marlin firearms during the period of 1881 to 1910. This particular example shows Marlin’s Grade No. 1 engraving which
features elegant flourishes of floral scrollwork, decorative borders, a fan pattern at the rear of the loading gate, and a circular game panel
scene of a buck in a forest on the left. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address and patent dates, as well as the caliber
marking at the breech. The Marlin Safety marking is on the top of the receiver while the serial number is on the bottom. The matching serial
number is marked on the left side of the upper tang along with “22” and inside the buttplate. The stock inlet is numbered “141003”, just 55
numbers away from this rifle. It is fitted with a Lyman beaded blade front sight and an elevation adjustable notch rear sight. It is mounted
with a “No. B” pattern checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with a crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 85% plus of the original blue finish, 50% plus of the vivid original case colors, and 70% of the original nitre blue
on the loading gate, with the balance mostly a grey patina, a few scattered light dings, a few patches of light surface spotting/freckling, and
crisp engraving. The replacement wood is also very fine with a scattered minor dings and a few blemishes in the otherwise crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent. An attractive example of late 19th century firearms art from Marlin and Conrad Ulrich!
Provenance: The Tom Selleck Collection.
Estimate: 30,000 - 42,500
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