This rifle was manufactured c. 1885 and features a Marble Sheard front sight, an adjustable sporting rear sight, the two-line address and patent marking ending in the 1880 date ahead of the rear sight, "40 CAL." on top at the breech, the serial number on the bottom of the frame at the breech, and a smooth stock and forearm fitted with an iron forend cap and iron buttplate and extensive silver inlays and accents. The inlays look as though they were recycled from a beloved Hawken style rifle. The four engraved eagle inlays on the right side of the forearm and the sides of the wrist were designed to serve as wedge escutcheons. Four would be the right amount for a half-stock mountain rifle. The bottom of the forearm also has a long wear plate. The right side of the stock has a large three-piece patchbox design with pierced designs and floral engraving. The patchbox is an accent without an actual cavity. There is also a floral engraved comb plate, a large engraved spread wing bald eagle on the left side of the butt, and a long toe plate that runs from the toe to the lower tang and is engraved with a leaf pattern. The inlay on the left side of the forearm is inscribed "RW ROCK" using dots. The rifle is accompanied by information about Richard W. Rock, better known as Rocky Mountain Dick. He was born in 1846 or 1847 and came to the West and became infatuated with the wildlife of the region. He was a contemporary and acquaintance of Buffalo Bill Cody and partnered with the famous buffalo hunter "Yellowstone Vic" Smith for five years. Vic had been a scout for George Armstrong Custer, Nelson Miles, and others and was one of Theodore Roosevelt's "western friends" that he remained in touch with into the 20th century. Smith was photographed with his own Marlin rifle. Rock often was mistakenly said to have also been an army scout. They guided hunting parties in the West and witnessed first-hand the depletion of the buffalo. While Rock and Smith were themselves prolific hunters, they also became key figures in preserving the West's big game and owned a large ranch name "Smith-Rocksian" with 140 acres enclosed by 10 foot fences at Henry's Lake in Idaho. Smith sold out in 1890. Rock continued on and kept and raised a variety of wild animals, including bison, mountain goats, elk, black bears, grizzly bears, black tail deer, moose, and pronghorn in addition to his dogs and various birds. Many of the animals were caught by lasso in winter. Tourists would visit his ranch en-route to Yellowstone National Park. In addition to preventing these species from being extirpated via over-hunting, he also raised the animals to provide meat for market and to supply other ranches and game preserves as well as zoos in the East, including the large game preserve of millionaire Austin Corbin in New Hampshire. Corbin was killed in a carriage crash involving one of the elk. Rock had a famous cow moose named Nellie Bly after the journalist that would pull a cart or sled and race against horses. His wife also had a pet moose that followed her around, and she was reported to be an excellent shot with a rifle. Rock could also ride some of his massive bison, including a large bull named "Williams Jennings Bryan" after the famous Nebraska politician and leader of the agrarian Populist Party. Rock's efforts to crossbreed bison with domestic cattle helped lead to "beefalos" which both preserved the species and has somewhat diluted pure bison. Regarding the bison he said, “I am always glad to add a buffalo to my collection and seldom sell any. Given sufficient space and solitude (for they are very nervous) buffaloes propagate rapidly. I want to secure as many as possible in order to form a nucleus. Then, in case the Government ever does decide to set apart a portion of its millions of idle acres for the use and cultivation of the buffalo, I will be able to furnish the herd necessary for the start." He noted the value of the bison as a source of both fur and meat and noted they breed readily and could be tamed through kind treatment. Unfortunately for Rock, that didn't always work out. Domestic farm animals are dangerous enough, but a massive bison in a bad mood was a real danger. He had many close calls over the years and met his end at the hands of a bison he had raised since it was a calf and named Lindsay. Though he and the animal had played together for years and it would allow him to ride it, even a powerfully built 6 ft+ tall man like Rock was no match for an angry bison. Lindsay gored him to death in March 1902 when he turned his back. Lindsay was in turn shot and killed in an attempted rescue. Much of his remaining menagerie was purchased by Senator William Clark of Montana and lived on at the Columbia Gardens amusement park in Butte. That same year was the real turning point for the American bison at Yellowstone thanks to Colonel C.J. Jones taking over as game warden, guarding against poaching and bringing in more bison to strengthen the herd, and within less than a decade, members of the herd were being relocated across the country to keep it manageable. Rock would have been happy to see it and likely even more proud of the country if he could see the herds today, nearly ten-fold the number left in the 1880s.

Good with a lot of western frontier character you'd expect from a famous hunter and animal tamer's rifle. The metal has smooth mottled gray and brown patina with mild dings and scratches from use in the West. The dust cover assembly is absent. The silver displays attractive aged patina and has softened engraving. The wood is also fine and has the same type of dings and scratches from honest use. Mechanically excellent. This is a rare opportunity to get your hands on a truly one-of-a-kind Marlin Model 1881 lever action rifle with "RW ROCK" inscription attributed to legendary western rancher Rocky Mountain Dick.