Manufactured in 1895, this is an exceptional special ordered example of Marlin's Model 1893, which was undoubtedly factory master engraved by Conrad F. Ulrich. A student of the legendary Gustave Young, Ulrich learned his craft from Young working for Colt, before moving on to Winchester with his two brothers around 1869, and finally being hired as Master Engraver by Marlin around 1881, engraving the majority of their high grade arms until 1910. During his employ at Marlin, Ulrich is widely regarded as having produced some of the finest embellished American arms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with this particular example being no exception. The year 1881 not only marked the beginning of Ulrich's partnership with Marlin, but also the company's first entry into the lever action repeater market with their Model 1881. While many view Marlin as "playing second fiddle" to Winchester for most of their existence, it is easily argued that Marlin was producing equal or better quality lever actions that were, more often than not, technologically one step ahead of whatever Winchester had to offer. In the realm of fine art arms, the artisans at Marlin also rose to Winchester's challenge, showing equal or greater skill in producing high grade, utilizing more precious metal in inlays, more complex and spectacular carving and checking patterns, with an emphasis on factory engraving on casehardened surfaces (much rarer in all models of Winchester Collecting) exemplified perfectly by Ulrich engraved examples like this one. In many ways, and in typical American fashion, it was the constant competition between these to iconic companies that drove them to produce some of the highest quality, most advanced, and most beautifully embellished arms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries anywhere in the world. It was this constant pursuit of excellence from both companies that made their lever action repeaters the desire of anyone who laid eyes on them in the past and has cemented them as treasured and iconic pieces of Americana to this day. This particular Model 1893 takedown rifle is an exceptional example of the skill of Conrad F. Ulrich as well as the other artisans in Marlin's employ. The receiver is masterfully cut by Ulrich's hand with a variation of Marlin's No. 3 pattern engraving featuring a beautiful relief engraved scene of a grazing elk on the left of the receiver, bordered by a circular non-engraved/negative space band, and flanked by large panels of flowing floral scrollwork. The right side of the receiver has near full coverage floral scrollwork along with a fan pattern at the rear of the loading gate and a pinwheel at the center of the breech block. Depictions of this pattern showing similar designs can be seen on p. 531 of "Marlin Firearms" by William Brophy. There are additional fan patterns on the bottom of the receiver and takedown collar, and the scrollwork continues on the sides of the lever lug, sides of the takedown collar, top of the receiver and upper tang, sides of the forearm cap, and sides of the lever. The breech end of the barrel is silver banded with light flourishes of floral scroll as well as bands/geometric pattern and a serpentine scroll inlaid with much-tarnished German silver. Regarding the engraving at the breech of the barrel on this rifle, it is worth noting the similarities in the scrollwork and placement at the breech with that of the engraving carried out on Winchester's "One of 1,000" and other highly embellished rifles, much of which was executed by Conrad's brother, John Ulrich, who is said to have learned the craft from Conrad during their time together at Colt. These particular instances of engraving show a crossover between the two iconic companies, as well as a connection between two brothers who were both considered masters of their craft. The matching serial number is on the bottom of the receiver, left side of the upper tang (along with "55"), and stamped in the stock inlet. It is fitted with a Lyman beaded blade front sight, Lyman two-leaf rear sight, and a Lyman No. 1 combination peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a nicely figured, Marlin "No. C" fleur-de-lis pattern checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with a checkered hard rubber shotgun buttplate.