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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 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. Manufacturer: Marlin Firearms Co Model: 1895 BBL: 28 inch part octagon Stock: walnut Gauge: 45-90 WCF Finish: blue/casehardened Serial Number140948 Class: Antique