Marlin Model 1894 Rifle manufactured in 1897. The rifle is accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum data sheet that identifies the rifle as a Marlin Model 1894 Rifle, caliber 32, with 24-inch, half octagon barrel and pistol grip stock. The date shows the shipping date as "12-11-97". The rifle has a color casehardened receiver, hammer, loading lever and crescent buttplate. The half round/half octagon barrel, full length magazine and forearm cap have a blue finish. The loading gate and receiver screws are niter blue. The checkered walnut pistol grip stock and forearm have an oil-finish. The barrel has a dovetail mounted Express front sight with ivory bead and a sporting style rear sight, Sling swivels are mounted on the forearm tip and stock. The rifle is fitted with a russet leather sling with stamped floral decorations. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "-MARLIN FIRE-ARMS CO. NEW-HAVEN. CT. U.S.A.- / PATENTED. OCT. 11. 1887. APRIL. 8.1889." ahead of the rear sight. The caliber designation "32 W" is stamped on the top of the barrel in front of the receiver. The top of the receiver is roll stamped "-MARLIN SAFETY-" with fancy arrows at either end of the marking. "MODEL/1894" is roll-stamped in two lines on the upper receiver tang. The serial number, "159403" is stamped across the forward edge of the lower receiver.

Very fine. The barrel, magazine and forearm cap have more than 95% of the blue finish. Most of the niter blue finish is present on the loading gate. The receiver, hammer, loading lever and buttplate retain 75% of the slightly faded case-hardened finish mixed with vivid case colors. The case colors on the left side of the receiver show some minor handling wear and have faded slightly to a brown patina. The barrel and receiver markings are crisp. The stock and forearm have been expertly refinished and show almost no wear. The checkered panels on the pistol grip and forearm are sharp. This is a solid example of a Deluxe Marlin Model 1894 lever-action rifle.