Engraved Model 90?
Moderators: Regnier (gunrunner), JohnK, Sure-Shot
Engraved Model 90?
I hope you guys can help me. My brother inherited a model 90 from his inlaws, its 12ga d/t but the interesting part is it has 100% coverage engraving w/gold pheasant on one side duck on other have had no luck finding any info on these guns engraved. He doesn't want to sell it just curious about value and rarity any help would be greatly appreciated thanks
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Toller 16;
Whoever did the engraving was really pretty good. Much in the style of the old masters, Nimschke, Ulrich's and Young.
Get a magnifying glass and look for some type of signature. Many artists sign their work is some non-descript location. Sometimes, it will be hidden in the work, sometimes out in the open, just where it cannot be readily seen.
Whoever did the engraving was really pretty good. Much in the style of the old masters, Nimschke, Ulrich's and Young.
Get a magnifying glass and look for some type of signature. Many artists sign their work is some non-descript location. Sometimes, it will be hidden in the work, sometimes out in the open, just where it cannot be readily seen.
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- Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2002 2:33 am
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Toller 16;
The "K" serial number prefix indicates 1954. Unfortunately, Marlin did not have a custom shop during this time to do custom work such as this. The only "factory" engraved Model 90's were the early guns that had the "engraving" roll stamped on the receiver. This is not roll die engraving. The only, true, hand engraved Model 90 is the one made for Tom Mix, and that was done outside the factory by a company that specialized in stationary engraving. Your gun has engraving on surfaces that the Tom Mix gun does not.
I doubt the factory had anything to do with this engraving, but it was done by someone with considerable talent. The scroll work is very good and would appear they knew how to refinish the metal after the engraving.
Again, look for an artist signature. It might help identify who did this engraving, and maybe when.
The "K" serial number prefix indicates 1954. Unfortunately, Marlin did not have a custom shop during this time to do custom work such as this. The only "factory" engraved Model 90's were the early guns that had the "engraving" roll stamped on the receiver. This is not roll die engraving. The only, true, hand engraved Model 90 is the one made for Tom Mix, and that was done outside the factory by a company that specialized in stationary engraving. Your gun has engraving on surfaces that the Tom Mix gun does not.
I doubt the factory had anything to do with this engraving, but it was done by someone with considerable talent. The scroll work is very good and would appear they knew how to refinish the metal after the engraving.
Again, look for an artist signature. It might help identify who did this engraving, and maybe when.
Re: Engraved Model 90?
Regnier (gunrunner)
I was trying to find out some information about the aftermarket engraving on a 16 ga. Marlin model 90 I recently bought. I contacted Lehman Brothers, the stationary engraving company that did the special engraving on the Tom Mix Model 90, to see if they had any records of special engraving jobs they might have done.
I got a email back from David Perkins (203-624-9911) stating that Lehman Brothers never actually did any of that kind of work. He said that their shop is next door to the original site of the Marlin firearms factory, and Charlie Preiss and Dan Cavenaugh (mentioned in Brophy's book) and other Lehman Brothers employees would "moonlight" at Marlin for extra cash.
I was trying to find out some information about the aftermarket engraving on a 16 ga. Marlin model 90 I recently bought. I contacted Lehman Brothers, the stationary engraving company that did the special engraving on the Tom Mix Model 90, to see if they had any records of special engraving jobs they might have done.
I got a email back from David Perkins (203-624-9911) stating that Lehman Brothers never actually did any of that kind of work. He said that their shop is next door to the original site of the Marlin firearms factory, and Charlie Preiss and Dan Cavenaugh (mentioned in Brophy's book) and other Lehman Brothers employees would "moonlight" at Marlin for extra cash.
BarkeyVA
Re: Engraved Model 90?
I have since learned that my engraved Model 90 is a Skeetking. Skeetkings were only available by special order in 1939 and 1940. Also,the "K" serial number indicates that Toller 16's gun was made in 1953 rather than 1954. Marlin did not use "I", "O" or "Q" in their post-WWII serial numbers.
BarkeyVA