Manufactured in 1897, the very scarce half octagon short barrel "Bicycle Rifle" has the standard two-line address/patent marking in front of the rear sight dovetail. The model designation is on the upper tang, and the serial number is on the bottom of the receiver. Fitted with beaded blade front and peep tang sights with a filler block in the rear sight dovetail. Mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a checkered hard rubber buttplate. Included with the rifle is an information request from Cody Firearms Museum stating the record is blank. This alludes to the rifle being one sold directly from the factory or sold internally to an employee. Brophy states in "Marlin Firearms: A History of the Guns and the Company That Made Them" that a mere 216 Model 1897 bicycle rifles were manufactured with only five of them having half-octagon barrels. Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection

Very good, retaining 30% original blue on the barrel and magazine with the balance fading to brown and pitting near the receiver. Receiver retains traces of case colors in protected areas with the balance a smooth gray and brown patina with some light pitting at the front and scattered dings. Refinished buttstock with numerous scattered dings and scratches and a hairline crack coming off the upper tang. Mechanically excellent.