Manufactured in 1902. The rifle is richly engraved with a factory No. 15 pattern consisting of scrollwork, scroll borders and wonderful game scenes. The receiver features a stag battling three coyotes on the left side and a mountain lion preparing to take down a buck on the right side. An engraved bighorn sheep head graces the underside of the receiver in a circular panel. The engraving is accented with gold and platinum inlaid bands. The platinum band on the takedown collar transitions to gold, otherwise the bands, which appear on the hammer, receiver, lever and barrel at the breech, are composed of single material of either gold or platinum. At the time this rifle was manufactured Conrad Friedrich Ulrich Jr. was the engraver for Marlin and did a majority of the engraving for Marlin from 1881 until 1910 when he left for Winchester, spending a lifetime embellishing some of the finest high art firearms of the period. The barrel has a Marble Sheard blade front sight and an elevation adjustable rear sight and is stamped with the two-line address/patent dates marking and "45*90" on the top flat and "SPECIAL SMOKELESS STEEL" on the upper left flat. The top of the receiver is marked "MARLIN SAFETY" and has been drilled and tapped for sight mounting. There is a folding tang peep sight. The highly figured deluxe walnut forearm and pistol grip stock have "G" type fancy, multi-point checkering featuring a smooth band that curves through the pattern. The buttstock is fitted with a checkered hard rubber Marlin buttplate and an initialed shield inlay on the underside of the pistol grip.

Very good plus. The barrel and magazine have a smooth brown patina mixed with faded traces of original blue finish. Traces of silvered out original case colors are in the protected areas of the remaining surfaces, otherwise faded to a gray. Some pitting is present. The engraving is crisp. The wood is also very good with minor handling marks, most of the original finish remaining and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. A true masterpiece of Marlin high art that will be a great addition to any lever action sporting collection.