"MARLIN MODEL 1889 DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 56944. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). A most rare 1889 with 28" oct bbl, full magazine, hunting front sight & an altered Winchester style semi-buckhorn rear sight. Mounted with highly figured, checkered American walnut with serpentine pistol grip stock & crescent buttplate. Lever, forend cap & buttplate are nickel finish. The serial number was observed in usual place on bottom of receiver, on left side of top tang under wood, in top tang channel of buttstock & inside toe of buttplate. There was a total of 55,119 rifles & carbines in the Model 1889 with only 2,268 produced with 38" bbls. The nickel highlights are extremely rare on any Marlin. Accompanied by a Marlin Firearms Co. letter identifying this rifle in 44 caliber with 28" bbl & pistol grip and indicating shipment Oct. 9, 1891. CONDITION: Fine plus. Bbl retains about 90% strong orig blue turning plum. Magazine tube is mostly plum/blue patina with an area of pitting & a removed dent toward upper end. Receiver retains 65-75% thin orig blue with lever retaining about 80% milky orig nickel with some pimples of brown showing through. Forearm cap & buttplate retain 50-60% orig nickel. Wood is sound showing light to moderate wear with a small hole in bottom of buttstock with usual light nicks & scratches & a gouge near the heel and retains about 90% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of light pitting. 4-35374 JR46 (7,000-9,000)"
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