Manufactured in 1886, this is an incredible example of John Mahlon Marlin's first entry into the lever action rifle market, which had already been dominated by Winchester for almost two decades. While not as widely recognized as American icons as Winchester's lever actions, Marlin's rifles are no less legendary in the way that they drove innovation and helped shaped the American arms markets of the 19th and 20th centuries. These 1881 rifles were a product of patents by Marlin himself, as well as Andrew Burgess, H.F. Wheeler, and E.A.F. Toepperwein, and were arguably a better, more robust rifle than anything Winchester had on offer at the time. This particular rifle was manufactured prior to the model even being given this designation, being called simple "Marlin Repeating Rifle" in company advertising until 1888, just before Marlin released their second model of lever action repeater. When it was first released, the Model 1881 Marlin was one of the only repeating rifles on the market capable of handling the most powerful cartridges of the time, such as the .45-70 Government cartridge like this example is chambered in, making it highly desirable in the American West by those in search of unmatched firepower. It would take five more years after the introduction of the Marlin Model 1881 for Winchester to release a model of similar strength capable of utilizing the .45-70 cartridge. These rifles, particularly in standard configuration, were often viewed as a tool and saw hard use on the frontier, leaving very few available to collectors in exceptional condition like this one. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address and patent dates ending with 1880, and the "45 Govt" caliber marking is at the breech. The matching full serial number is marked on the bottom front of the receiver, left side of the upper and lower tang, and inside the buttplate. It is fitted with a German silver "Rocky Mountain" blade front sight, an elevation adjustable "Rocky Mountain" notch rear sight, and a Lyman combination rear sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a smooth steel buttplate.