POTD: A Ride or Die – The 1897 Marlin Bicycle Rifle
Sam.S 06.01.23
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a really cool piece of marketing history. this is a Marlin 1897 Bicycle Rifle. These guns came after the 1891 introduction of Marlin’s lever action 22 lineup. Their initial run of 22 caliber rifles was very popular so when they came out with updates in 1897 they made takedown models as well as having the option of special ordering dozens of different configurations. On such factory configuration was the bicycle rifle with its 16″ barrel. These were marketed to be small enough (when taken down) top fit in the frame of common bicycles of the day. They even manufactured special cases that would strap to said bicycles!
“Manufactured in 1897, the barrel has the standard two-line address/patent marking in front of the rear sight. 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 elevation adjustable rear sights. Mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a checkered hard rubber buttplate. The included 1983 dated factory letter lists this rifle as having a 24 inch round barrel in .22 caliber when shipped on July 22, 1897 to an unknown recipient. Also included is a 1988 dated letter from William S. Brophy written on Marlin letter head stating that from his examination of the rifle it appears that the bicycle rifle configuration is in fact the factory installed original. He goes on to state that this conclusion was made because the magazine is, from his observation, original and not cut down that the barrel must be as well. In “Marlin Firearms” Brophy states on page 243 that only 216 1897s were manufactured as bicycle rifles, and only 97 were manufactured with round barrels. Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection”
Lot 3036: Marlin Model 1897 Lever Action Bicycle Rifle – Rare Marlin Model 1897 Lever Action Bicycle Style Rifle with Marlin Factory Letter and Brophy Letter. (n.d.-s). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved May 31, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/84/3036/marlin-model-1897-lever-action-bicycle-rifle.
