North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Wild West Wonders: May Collector's Auction Event

Sat, May 18, 2024 11:00AM EDT
  2024-05-18 11:00:00 2024-05-18 11:00:00 America/New_York North American Auction Company North American Auction Company : Wild West Wonders: May Collector's Auction Event https://live.naabid.com/auctions/north-american-auction/wild-west-wonders-may-collectors-auction-event-15617
Join us for our next premier auction event, the Wild West Wonders May Auction. The sale includes 100's of rarities from the West, Native Americans, American history, and more. Join us on May 18th at 9am Mountain Time.
North American Auction Company tucker@naabid.com
Lot 231

C. 1911- Marlin Model 20 .22 Short Pump Rifle

Estimate: $750 - $1,000
Starting Bid
$450

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
Exceptionally rare Marlin Model 20-A .22 SHORT CALIBER GALLERY GUN. The Model 20-A pump action rim fire rifle was typically made to accept .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle cartridges. Only the Model 20-A Gallery Model was chambered for .22 Short only. This limited production special rifle is rarely encountered today. The Model 20-A was made from 1911-1922. This example with serial number 5328 (located on the inside of the tang under the wood stock) is in fine condition considering that Gallery Guns typically saw very hard use, and often abuse, at carnivals and fairs across the country. They were rarely cleaned or maintained and usually saw thousands of rounds fired each year. This rifle has correct Marlin markings on the upper tang (partially worn from years of handling and shooting!) and on the correct 23” octagon barrel top with the last patent date of 1904. It sports the original small buckhorn rear sight with blade front sight. The barrel retains fine aged blue while the magazine tube shows an uncleaned very aged blue/brown patina. The receiver is mainly an uncleaned gray with some very small traces of aged blue in the most protected areas. The action functions fine and the hammer displays a firm and solid half-cock safety notch. It appears that only the magazine spring cap/follower is missing (the spring is intact) and should be easy to replace. Surprisingly, the stock and forearm are free from cracks or chips and shows good wood to metal fit. The barrel is clearly caliber stamped “22 S” at the breech end on the left side octagon flat. As is us usual for shooting-gallery guns in general, the bore on this rare Marlin is dark and shows heavy wear from early corrosive .22 Short Gallery ammunition. With octagon barrel, walnut stock and curved crescent butt plate and takedown feature, this Marlin Gallery Gun congers images of warm summer nights at county fairs in the pre and post World War I era when shooting galleries represented good American fun instead of the perceived threats that they would represent today. A chance to own a true piece of early 20th Century Americana! The rifle weighs 4lbs 10oz. Serial Number: 5326. This firearm qualifies as a Curio & Relic firearm, and requires FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.