Manufactured in 1897. The receiver of this rifle is decorated with a fabulous Marlin Grade No. 10 engraving and inlaid patterns consisting of grape leaves on a fine punch dot background and highly detailed games scenes outlined in gold inlay. The factory engraving patterns were established 1897 when renowned master engraver Conrad Ulrich was the engraver for Marlin. Ulrich did a majority of the engraving for Marlin from 1881 until 1910 when he left for Winchester, spending a lifetime embellishing some of the finest high art firearms of the period. Grade No. 10 was one of the highest grades of embellishments offered by Marlin at this time and cost the customer an additional $50.00. The left side of the receiver depicts a doe and buck in a forest scene inside an oval panel outlined in gold. The right side of the receiver depicts a squirrel in a tree inside a circular panel outlined in gold. Light scrollwork decorates the forend cap and lever. Additional gold inlay is found on the hammer and forend cap. The breech of the barrel is engraved with light scrollwork and inlaid with gold and platinum lines. The rifle is fitted with a beaded blade Lyman front sight, a two leaf Lyman rear sight, and a folding tang peep sight. The top barrel flat has the two-line Marlin address/patent dates marking ahead of the rear sight. The top of the receiver is drilled and tapped between the “MA” in the “MARLIN SAFETY” marking. The underside of the receiver has the serial number. The deluxe walnut forearm and pistol grip stock feature a factory checkering pattern using grape leaves. This style of checkering was reserved for rifles decorated with the No. 10 engraving. As stated in period factory marketing literature, “Our illustration of No. 10 engraving shows a stock and forearm specially checkered to accord with the grape leaf design of the engraving” (“Marlin Firearms,” 520). The buttstock is fitted with a Marlin hard rubber shotgun style buttplate. A similar No. 10 engraved, inlaid and stocked Model 1897 is pictured in “Marlin Firearms” on page 239 where author and Marlin expert Brophy confirms the rarity of this grade of decorative firearm: “One of very few known gold inlaid Model 1897 rifles.” Comes with two extra .22 caliber factory half octagon barrels factory engraved and inlaid to match. Each barrel has empty front and rear sight dovetails, measures 24 inches, and has the factory two-line legend on the top flat. One barrel is unnumbered. The other barrel is numbered to the gun and is marked with the number “2.” The inclusion of three matching engraved and inlaid barrels is another rare feature. The accompanying factory letter indicates that there are two entries for this rifle in the factory ledger. The first entry lists a rifle with 24 inch half octagon barrel in .22 caliber when shipped on October 1, 1898. The second entry lists a rifle with half octagon barrel in .22 caliber and pistol grip stock when shipped September 25, 1897. A second ship date of October 19, 1913, is also provided. A series of shipping entries is indicative of factory exhibition pieces that were displayed at various World's Fairs, other international exhibitions, American exhibitions, and sometimes at important dealers. Marlin factory letters are notorious for being incomplete. Again we turned to Brophy for insight: “Marlin company won numerous awards for excellence at international and national exhibitions and World’s Fairs. Unfortunately, complete details have not survived the many corporate changes that the various Marlin organization went through. The first major award known is the Highest Award of Merit, which Marlin received at the Centennial International Exhibition, held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1888” ("Marlin Firearms," page 487). The ship dates for this rifle are ambiguous; however, there are possibilities. The Brussels International Exposition was a world’s fair held in Brussels, Belgium, from May 10-November 8, 1897. Displays from twenty-seven countries were seen by nearly 8 million people. The Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition was held in Omaha, Nebraska, from June 1-November 1898.

Very good, exuding an appearance of a high art firearm that spent a lifetime of use during the period, proving that not all art hangs on a wall. The barrel and magazine tube retain 60% original blue finish with smooth brown patina mixed with spotting on the balance. The receiver, hammer, lever, and forend cap have faded to a gray with slight patterns of original case colors around the trigger. The engraving is crisp. The very good wood shows similar working gun character with a chip at the toe and well-worn checkering from spending a lifetime in the hand. The two extra barrels are very good. Each extra barrel retains 90% original blue finish mixed with spotting. Mechanically excellent. This rifle has all the honest hallmarks of a working gun from the period and proves that all art does not reside behind glass. This is a rarely seen factory No. 10 engraved, inlaid, and stocked Marlin Model 1897 three barrel rifle set that has a story or two to tell.