This Marlin revolver has a round ribbed barrel, short-fluted cylinder, blade and groove sights, and factory floral scroll engraving and punch dot backgrounds on the sides of the frame, cylinder, and barrel along with border designs. The top of the rib is marked "XXX STANDARD 1872", and the left side has the Marlin address and patent information. The serial number "17" is marked on the barrel, cylinder, and grip strap. It is fitted with a pair of DeGress grips with floral scroll designs, the patent date around the screw on the left panel, and a lady on the right. Francis DeGress patented his unique grips in 1874. Unlike conventional grips, DeGress grips were made of molten metal pressed into molds which replicated several patterns of his design and were then gilded in silver. A similar pair of Marlin's with the same "Lady Pattern" grips are pictured in Smith and Suydam's article on DeGress grips from the Gun Report in January 1972.

Good. The moderately worn revolver has an attractive aged patina with crisp engraving patterns on the frame and a gray patina with some spotting on the balance. Some silver plating is visible on the sides of the grip straps. The grips have traces of silver plating with otherwise a copper tone and appealing relief designs. Mechanically fine with mostly clear markings. According to William Brophy in MARLIN FIREARMS "the DeGress grips are desirable and a Marlin pistol fitted with them belongs in every serious Marlin pistol collector’s collection." We agree!