2213

CASED PAIR OF MARLIN 'XXX STANDARD 1872' PISTOLS WITH DEGRESS PATENT GRIPS.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
CASED PAIR OF MARLIN 'XXX STANDARD 1872' PISTOLS WITH DEGRESS PATENT GRIPS.
SN 24, 4449. DeGress grips were patented by Francis DeGress in 1874 and must have been quite popular due to the different guns that they were made to fit. However his grips are difficult to find today as many were sold in his store in Mexico City & also in the U.S. and probably saw hard use. This pair is quite nice as can be seen in photos, retaining much of the orig silver finish to both grips and guns. These little Marlin Pistols conform to other XXX Standard 1872's with 3" ribbed bbl, engraved brass frame marked on bbl flat "XXX STANDARD 1872" and on left side of bbl "J. M. MARLIN NEW HAVEN, CT USA PAT. JULY 1, 1873". This is a beautiful pair of guns in matching condition retaining most of their orig finish. A nearly identical gun is pictured in the January 1972 Gun Report article by Charles Smith and Charles Suydam titled The DeGress "Tiffany Grips" which a copy accompanies these pistols. PROVENANCE: Marlan Polhemus Collection. CONDITION: Guns are fine overall retaining over 90% of their orig silver plating to bbls and cylinders. Frames retain about 40% of their orig finish and the very scarce DeGress Patented grips which are marked on verso "PAT. APR. 28 '74" retain about half of their finish on one gun and about 20% on the other. Mechanically both guns function with fine bores. Accompanying post-market casing is in overall very good condition with new brown velvet lining. Included is a copy of recently published "The Francis DeGress Story" by Marlan Polhemus showing and describing these Marlins (p. 124), as well as the patent and many examples. 4-48732 JS80