Manufactured c. 1883, this is a very fine example of a Marlin Model 1881 rifle. The Model 1881 was Marlin's first foray into lever action repeating rifles, and it was the first in a long lineage of such for the company. Marlin would go on to become Winchester's closest competitor in the lever action market, with some of their rifles being of arguably better design than their Winchester counterparts. The top barrel flat is marked with the standard two-line address and the caliber marking at the breech. The early, four-digit serial number is marked on the bottom of the receiver. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and an elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a smooth steel shotgun buttplate.

Very fine, retains 75% of the original blue finish and traces of the original case colors in the sheltered areas of the lever and hammer with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily on high spots and edges. The wood is fine with a long horizontal hairline crack on the right side of the forend along with some scattered minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.