4302 EXTRAORDINARY FACTORY ENGRAVED, ONE OF ONLY TWO

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 10,000.00 USD
Estimated at 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
KNOWN, SPECIAL ORDER MARLIN 1888 RIFLE, THIS ONE BEING UNIQUE & INSCRIBED “SANTA CLAUS”.
Cal. 38W (38-40) S# 22340. Manufactured in 1888 it is obvious St. Nick must have been good that year and Mrs. Claus thought he deserved an extremely special present. She certainly had discerning taste and selected one of the two known factory engraved Marlin 1888 we know of that left the plant. We are told that the factory records indicate it was shipped on December 19th, 1888, just in time for Christmas! Perhaps there is another out there for Mrs. Claus. The model 1888 was only produced for 1 year and high condition examples are extraordinarily difficult to find. This rifle is fitted with a 24” barrel, half magazine, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight, semi buckhorn rear sight, & a Lyman combination tang sight with a large disc aperture. This very rare special-order case colored engraved example is inscribed “Santa Claus” on the left side surrounded by a well-executed arabesque scroll. The reverse right face shows a detailed Buck (Reindeer?) within a vignette that is surrounded with matching scroll. The rich toned fancy burl walnut stock set is factory checkered with a wraparound point pattern similar to the B style, however there is a greater coverage than standard. CONDITION: Overall, nicely aged maintaining 50% coverage of its fading original blue on its barrel and magazine tube with some small high edge nicks and a few spots of light old oxidation. The action retains delicate light case coloring that is fading to silver giving it a balanced gracefully aged appearance that compliments this antique rifle. The stock set has a nice coverage of its original finish with some light handling marks and scratches. Checkering is very good with some mild wear. The bore is overall bright and shiny with a few small spots and good rifling. PROVENANCE: EX- Santa Claus Collection, William Blount Collection of Extraordinary Marlins. (01-25286/ZAL). ANTIQUE. $20,000- 30,000.