The Model 27-S was manufactured from 1913 to 1932 with a pause in production during the First World War. Nearly all of these rifles were simple, utilitarian guns, and very, very few have special ordered embellishments, let alone the high degree of ornamentation seen here. A similarly engraved .22 slide action is pictured on page 444 of "Marlin Firearms" by Brophy; he has no examples of deluxe Model 27-S pictured. This beautiful example has factory scroll engraving backed by punch dot backgrounds and surrounding finely detailed scenes of three rabbits on the right side of the frame and a pair of squirrels in a tree on the left. Both scenes are accented by gold inlaid borders. The engraving even extends to the takedown knob and buttplate. The breech ring also has a band of gold and a band of platinum. The engraving was executed by Master Engraver Alden George Ulrich who worked for Marlin from 1905 until 1919 before joining Winchester following in the footsteps of his father, Conrad Friedrich Ulrich Jr. who left Marlin in 1910. The deluxe stock and forearm have F pattern checkering and high gloss finish. The serial number is on the left side of the upper tang and in the upper tang mortise. The barrel has a beaded blade front sight, standard sporting rear sight, the special steel marking on the upper left, the two-line address and patent marking on top ahead of the rear sight, and "25-20 M" on top at the breech. The upper tang is marked with "Marlin/No. 22-S." This rifle is pictured on the front cover of the 28th edition of "Blue Book of Gun Values" at the top and on the cover of "The Marlin Collector" Volume 30, Issue 4, from October 2010 and Volume 36, Issue 2, from March 2016. It is accompanied by a National Rifle Association “ONE OF THE TEN BEST ARMS” silver medal (number 382) won at the 2000 annual NRA meeting along with a box for the medal, a stand, and a "TEN BEST ARMS/AWARD/2000" plaque with NRA logos.

Excellent. The frame retains 95% plus of the high polish original blue finish and all of the gold and platinum inlays. The finely detailed engraving remains distinct. There is minor edge wear and some slight fading on the lower tang and the top of the frame. 85% plus of the original blue finish remains on the barrel and buttplate which exhibit some minor edge wear and slight fading. The buttplate has spots of silver gray. There is some faint spotting on the slide arm. The wood is also excellent and retains nearly all of the high polish finish and has crisp checkering, some scattered mild scratches, and attractive figure. Mechanically excellent. This is by far the finest Marlin Model 27-S we have had the pleasure to bring to auction. You just don't find these handy rifles with this level of factory embellishment or in this high condition.