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FACTORY ENGRAVED MARLIN XXX STANDARD

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
FACTORY ENGRAVED MARLIN XXX STANDARD

72 REVOLVER W/ RARE WEXELL & DEGRESS METAL GRIPS.
Cal. .32. S# 4161. This little Marlin Pistol conforms to other examples w/ 3" hinged tip-up bbl. marked on flat “STANDARD XXX 72". Engraved silver plated brass frame. Engraved bbl. on left side “J. M. MARLIN NEW HAVEN, CT USA PAT. JULY 1, 1873". Fitted w/ DeGress patent brass grips w/ large allegorical female figure in raised relief on right side & relief floral scrolls on left.
Francis DeGress patented his grips April 22, 1874 & so marked on left side. DeGress grips for many years were marketed as Tiffany. Research by Marlin Polhemus proved these grips were made in Mexico City & marketed through the gun shop of Wexell & DeGress. DeGress marketed these custom grips to several manufacturers including Colt, where these grips are best known. CONDITION: gun is fine overall retaining about 90% of its silver plate on steel bbl. & cylinder. Brass frame & grips retain about 50% of their silver. Mechanically fine w/ crisp shiny rifled bore. REFERENCE: This revolver is pictured in R. L. Wilson’s “The Colt Engraving Book”, vol. 1, page 298. (01-18852/JS). ANTIQUE. $2,000-3,000.