The Model 1881 is historically significant as Marlin's first lever action rifle and was significant in that it was chambered in .45-70 Government unlike the Winchester Model 1876 and was one of the most expensive American rifles when it first came out with a base price of $32. Special order features like those seen on this extraordinary rifle would have driven the price up further. For example, the engraving alone would have added at least $5. The rifle is identified in the included provenance documentation as given to Jim McLaughlin by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. Cody is well-known to have gifted fine rifles to his friends in Wyoming, particularly Winchesters later in his career, but Marlin's Model 1881 was specifically advertised as having been used by Cody in his exhibitions, and Annie Oakley is also known to have used Marlins in his shows. The included factory letter lists this rifle in .45-70 with a 28 inch barrel and pistol grip stock. The magazine and special features sections are blank. It is listed as shipped to parties unknown on June 2, 1891. However, the documentation included with the rifle indicates the rifle was soon in Buffalo Bill's hands given Larry Larom indicates the rifle was presented by the legendary showman to Jim McLaughlin in August 1891. Cody toured Europe in 1887-1892, including various locations in England in the summer of 1891, and he setup his show near the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. In June of 1891, he was in Leeds, and by August of 1891 his show was in Stoke-on-Trent. The rifle has a globe front sight, the two-line address and patent marking, a rear sight dovetail filler block, "45 GOVT" marked on top at the breech, a tang mounted peep sight, factory engraving with mainly scroll patterns along with a round panel scene on the right of a grizzly bear on a precipice with hills and trees in the background and a second scene of a running buck in a scene with a tree and hills on the left side, casehardened frame, adjustable double set triggers, a pistol grip buttstock with nice figure as well as multi-point "B" checkering on the wrist and a nickel plated Swiss style buttplate numbered to the gun on the inside. The grizzly bear scene is particularly interesting given McLaughlin coincidentally wrote "A Word For the Grizzly Bear" for Outdoor Life in 1914 around the same time he is said to have given the rifle to Larry Larom. In his letter, he advocated for abolishing spring hunting of grizzlies and hunting with dogs to conserve the species for future hunters. This rifle was previously part of Irving H. "Larry" Larom's collection and was on his fireplace in his office for over 40 years. In a letter from Larom dated December 10, 1968, he writes, "With reference to the Marlin engraved rifle, serial #50351, which I have owned since about 1914. I acquired the rifle from my former partner at the Valley Ranch, Mr. James McLaughlin. McLaughlin, at one time, had been with Colonel Cody's Wild West Show. Colonel Cody had given the rifle to McLaughlin, while McLaughlin was driving the stage in the show. The stock on the rifle was broken, when it bounced out of the driver's box from the stage, while performing for European Royalty. Jim McLaughlin stated that Colonel Cody gave him the rifle in August 1891 out of friendship and for services rendered." As discussed in an included biography by Lawrence R. Borne, Larom (1889-1973) attended Cody's shows in the East and met him back stage. He permanently moved to Wyoming from New York after making several summer trips starting in 1910 while studying at Princeton. In 1914, he and his friend Winthrop Brooks from Yale stayed with Jim McLaughlin and his wife Jenny at their home near the Shoshone River outside of Cody, Wyoming, and then in 1915, the two young men purchased McLaughlin's property and ran the Valley Ranch as a dude ranch hosting other tourists from the East. McLaughlin was hired as a guide. When they hosted a house warming at the ranch, The Northern Wyoming Herald on August 20, 1915, called out the "Valley Ranch Roundup" and noted that the large event would include a Wild West show. Larom served in the U.S. Army in 1918 during World War I. After returning from the war, he and Brooks purchased adjoining land and expanded the ranch and added children's programs and a college preparatory school. Brooks later returned to New York to run his family's famous Brooks Brothers clothing store, and Larom took full control of the ranch in 1926. Larom was key figure in the establishment of the Buffalo Bill Memorial Association in 1917 and later the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming, and worked alongside General John J. Pershing and Daniel Beard (founder of the Boy Scouts of America) in 1923 as chairman of the National Committee of the Buffalo Bill Memorial Association. He was also one of the founders of the Dude Ranchers Association in 1926 and was its president until 1944. Many of his Native American artifacts were donated to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and are in the Plains Indian Museum. He was also involved in game management and conservation.

Very good with an attractive "Wild West" used appearance, traces of original blue finish in the protected areas, strong original blue on the loading gate, 25% plus of the age faded original case colors, crisp engraving and markings, and 30% original nickel plating on the buttplate. The wood is also very good and has smoothed checkering on the forend, repairs in the wrist as discussed above, attractive figure, and mild scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent. This is a very rare opportunity to get your hands on an extraordinary rifle identified as presented by Buffalo Bill Cody to western rancher and guide Jim McLaughlin and then given by McLaughlin to influential dude rancher Larry Larom. It is definitely a special piece of Wyoming history.