4297 CHOICE VERY RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED MARLIN 1894

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 10,000.00 USD
Estimated at 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
SADDLE RING CARBINE. Cal. 32-20. S# 174732 signifying that this rare carbine was manufactured in 1898 during the time that Conrad Ulrich was engraving for the company. Very few 1894 rifles were engraved and saddle ring carbines are rarely encountered. We believe that there are as few as 5 known examples in this configuration. The 20” carbine barrel holds a full-length magazine with a Barleycorn front sight and a carbine leaf rear sight held with two barrel bands. It is mounted on saddle ring action that is hand engraved in a no. 1 pattern featuring a vignette of a white-tailed buck standing on a hillside woodland scene on the left side. The engraved panel is surrounded with fine scroll that is bordered with a wavy line and fancy scroll with heart embellishments. Complimenting engraving is found on the right side of the receiver with matching borders. The top & bottom of the receiver, top tang, & bolt have nicely executed complimenting engraving. It has a figured fancy walnut stock that is checkered in factory B pattern hand checkering and ended with a steel carbine buttplate and carbine forearm. CONDITION: Overall, very fine with the barrel and magazine retain 95% of their original factory blue with a duller appearance to the magazine tube showing light scratches and scattered mild handling marks. The frame retains a very high percentage of patinaed factory blue with fading in the carry area. Blued components show some minor edge wear and a few mild handling marks. Lever has vivid case coloring that has faded to silver on the outer surfaces. Bolt and loading gate retains much of its original finish. The stock maintains the original finish with some light wear to the points of the checkering and minor handling marks there is a minor repair to miniscule chips at the lower tang. The bore is bright and shiny with sharp rifling. PROVENANCE: William Blount Collection of Extraordinary Marlins. (01-25292/ZAL) ANTIQUE. $20,000- 30,000.