Marlin Model 1881 Small Receiver .32-40 24” Lever Action Rifle 1885 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,769.00
LSB#: LSB260414DK007
Make: Marlin Firearms Co.
Model: 1881, Small Receiver
Serial Number: 10974
Year of Manufacture: 1885 / Antique
Caliber: .32-40 Winchester Center Fire
Action Type: Lever Action, fed by a tubular magazine
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “MARLIN FIRE-ARMS CO. NEW-HAVEN, CT. U.S.A. with patent dates below including the “RE-ISSUE” mark standard for the third type stamp. The top of the barrel behind the rear sight is marked “32-40”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “10974”.
Barrel Length: 24” Octagon
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded silver blade set between a base dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a v-notch semi-buckhorn dovetailed to the barrel. The tang is mounted with a folding tang sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with straight grip, straight comb, crescent steel buttplate, and capped forend. The stocks have been nicely refinished. The stocks may not be original. There are a few minor handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. The stocks rate in Excellent condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blued, Case Color lever, hammer, buttplate, and forend cap.
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. The barrel has been sleeved. There is no erosion. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of its new finish. The balance of the finish is strong and complete throughout. The case color is vibrant. The barrel has been sleeved. There are a few minor marks and small dings that have been blued over and a few faint scratches. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are legible. Overall, this rifle rates in about Excellent condition as a restored antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The lever action cycles smoothly. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Marlin Model 1881 holds a distinguished place in American firearms history as Marlin’s first centerfire lever-action repeating rifle — and the first lever-action design capable of handling the heavier, more powerful cartridges that the hunting public increasingly demanded in the post-Civil War era. Introduced to compete directly with Winchester’s dominant Model 1873, the 1881 was engineered with a side-ejection system that allowed for a solid receiver top and a cleaner sightline, advantages that would become Marlin hallmarks for generations. The small receiver variant, chambered in .32-40 Winchester Center Fire, represents the more elegantly proportioned configuration of the 1881 action — a cartridge that earned a devoted following among target shooters and deer hunters alike for its mild recoil, excellent accuracy potential, and the quality of available factory ammunition in the late 19th century.
This particular example has been professionally restored, presenting in Excellent condition with approximately 99% vivid new finish, vibrant case color on the lever, hammer, buttplate, and forend cap, and a sleeved bore rating a perfect 10/10 — fully functional and ready to shoot. The restoration work is clean and confident throughout, with sharp screw heads and legible markings intact, and the refinished walnut stocks show only minor handling marks with no structural flaws. The folding tang sight adds a period-correct and practical touch that complements the semi-buckhorn rear, giving the rifle a complete and cohesive sighting system well suited to the .32-40’s accuracy potential. Buyers seeking a wall-ready Victorian-era centerfire lever action that can also be taken to the range will find little competition at this level of presentation — and the antique status makes acquisition straightforward regardless of your jurisdiction. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! – L.S.