Manufactured c. 1906 and engraved by Conrad Friedrich Ulrich Jr. who served as Marlin's factory engraver from 1881-1910 before moving to work for Winchester. The same basic No. 2 engraving pattern is pictured on page 534 of "Marlin Firearms" on another Model 1897 but without an inscription. The right side has a stag on an outcropping with a sparsely wooded hill in the background, and the left side has a running stag pursued by a wolf that is emerging from the tree line. Both sides are accented by tight scrollwork, and scroll accents extend to the breech section of the barrel. The left side is also inscribed "N.B. Miller." Exactly which N.B. Miller owned this rifle is not clear, and a wide number of individuals match that name in the period. The stock and forearm have B pattern checkering, an engraved forend cap, and a checkered buttplate with the embossed Marlin safety logo. The barrel has a beaded blade front sight, the two-line Marlin Firearms Co. address and patent marking ahead of the adjustable sporting rear sight, and the noted scrollwork on the breech end. The upper tang has "Marlin./MODEL '97." which was adopted in 1905 per Brophy.

Very fine overall with 85% plus original blue and casehardened finish, beautifully executed engraving and inscription which remain crisp, fading of the blue on the forend cap, patches of minor oxidation/pitting (heaviest on the toe of the lever), crisp checkering, on the left side of the forend, minor marks and scratches on the metal and wood, and general minor wear from handling and storage. Mechanically excellent. A rare Ulrich factory engraved Marlin Model 97 small bore rifle.