MARLIN MODEL 1881 45 GOV’T EARLY 2 DIGIT SERIAL NUMBER – TOM SELLECK COLLECTION

An extraordinary and historically significant American lever action — Marlin Model 1881 chambered in .45 Government, bearing an early two-digit serial number (SN# 68) and formerly part of the Tom Selleck Collection.

Manufactured circa 1881, this rifle represents the earliest production period of Marlin’s first large-frame lever action — a landmark model that helped establish Marlin as a serious competitor in the repeating rifle market. The presence of such a low, two-digit serial number places this example among the very earliest rifles produced.

The rifle is fitted with a 28" octagon barrel and retains a graduated tang-mounted peep sight, a desirable period feature that enhances both shootability and collector appeal. The receiver remains color case hardened, complemented by a traditional steel butt plate, preserving the rifle’s classic frontier-era aesthetic.

Weighing 9 lbs 12 oz with a 13" length of pull, the rifle has the substantial feel expected of an early big-bore lever gun built for serious use.

Condition is described as very good to excellent original, an exceptional state of preservation for an 1881-dated rifle of this significance.

With its early two-digit serial number, strong original condition, and provenance from the Tom Selleck Collection, this Model 1881 represents a rare opportunity to acquire a foundational piece of Marlin history — a rifle that bridges the American frontier era with documented modern collector pedigree.