Manufactured from 1883 to 1891. This rifle was formerly of the James J. Grant collection and is pictured and identified in Grant's book "Single Shot Rifles" on pages 7 and 38 (figure N). Grant's book was the first major work published on single shot rifles. The casehardened receiver has the factory floral scroll engraving on a stippled background. The scrollwork is also featured on the chamber flats. The left side of the receiver is marked with the two-line Marlin address/Ballard patent marking. The rifle is fitted with a windgauge front sight (insert absent) and a mid-range Vernier tang peep sight. There is no provision for a rear barrel sight, and the barrel has barely noticeable professionally filed pair of dovetails. The checkered forearm and straight grip stock are highly figured walnut. The buttstock is fitted with a nickel plated Swiss buttplate. The forend has a horn Schnabel tip. The butt of the stock under the buttplate is marked "JJ/GRANT." Provenance: The James Grant Collection; The Milan J. Turk Collection

Very fine as professionally restored. The barrel retains much of the refurbished brown finish, and the receiver and lever retain 95% of the case colors. 95% of the nickel plating remains on the buttplate. The fine buttock has been refinished showing a couple of stress lines at the receiver, minimal handling marks and crisp checkering. The forearm is fine with some minor handling marks and some wear to the overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.