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VERY EARLY MARLIN MODEL 1881 FIRST VARIATION LEVER

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
VERY EARLY MARLIN MODEL 1881 FIRST VARIATION LEVER

ACTION RIFLE. Cal. 45 Govt (45-70). S# 118. Bbl. 28" Octagon. German silver blade Rocky Mountain front sight with elevator adjustable sporting rear sight. Rare early style 12" half length mag. Later half mags were 13". Records show as few a 194 model 1881 rifles had half mags. Rare rebated receiver. While “Marlin Firearms” by Lt. Col. William S. Brophy States that fewer than 600 Model 1881 rifles were produced with rebated receivers, more recent extensive research done by Mr. Runge and fellow Marlin enthusiast Rick Regnier indicate that fewer than 300 were actually manufactured. Blued finish with case colored hammer, lever, forearm cap & M1881 style steel buttplate. Forearm & straight grip stock of fancy thin shell walnut exhibiting fiddle & dark streaking. Weight: 8 lbs 15.6 oz. CONDITION: outstanding rifle in very fine condition. Bbl., action & mag tube retain over 95% bright blue showing slight edge wear with spots of flaking on top tang & breech bolt. Hammer, lever & forearm cap retain nicely visible case colors. Buttplate shows traces of original case colors. Original wood finish shows light wear with scattered light scratches & marks. Bright bore with sharp rifling. PROVENENANCE: Ex Pete Harvey Collection. From the life long collection of Robert Runge. (01-21655/DS). $.6000-10000.