of sporting arms, with management showing little interest in the field and merely maintaining a repair department to service pre-war Marlin sporting arms and maintain good will for the company name.
By 1921 a new organization—the Marlin Firearms Corporation—was formed, but manufacturing operations never got rolling. By 1923 the firm went into receivership, ultimately reaching the auction block. Purchase in its entirety was made by Frank Kenna in that year, revitalization began, and once again Marlin entered the field of sporting firearms, manufacture continuing (with exception of the war years 1942 to 1945) to the present day as the Marlin Firearms Company. The company has remained within the Kenna family to present and devotes most of its energies to sporting firearms.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(Note: Important sources for information are factory catalogs issued beginning with the early 1880s. Other material about Marlins and Ballards may be found in bibliographic listings elsewhere in this book, notably Chapters IV, V and XIV. These are: The Rifle In America by Philip Sharpe, the three volumes on single shot rifles by James Grant, 100 Years Of Shooters And Gun Makers Of Single Shot Rifles by Kelver, U.S. Military Small Arms 1816-1865 by Reilly, and many reprints of original Marlin catalogs.)
*Brophy, William S., Lt. Col., U.S.A.R., Ret., Marlin Firearms; A History of the Guns and the Company That Made Them. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books, 1989. The major work in this field; massive in size and scope; likely to remain unequaled in importance.
*Dutcher, John T. Ballard, The Great American Single Shot Rifle. Denver, Colo.: Privately printer for the author, 2002. Considerably updates information on the significant American rifle. All known models; details of the Ballards used during Civil War and Western expansion; target and customized types.
Ellis, Richard S. “The Midas Marlins.” Rock Island, Illinois: Privately published. Monograph, catalog of exceptional engraved rifles.
*Layman, George J. “Guide To The Ballard Breechloader.” Union City, Tenn: Pioneer Press, 1997. In-depth study each model and their ctgs.
Wolff, Eldon G., Ballard Rifles In The Henry J. Nunnemacher Collection. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Public Museum of the City of Milwaukee, 1945; Second Edition 1961. Highly detailed study of Ballards and Marlin-Ballards with a wealth of data on accessories. Substantial non-analyzed statistical data taken from many specimens.
Marlin Handguns
“XL Derringer”
“XL Derringer” marked Single Shot 41 Rimfire Deringer. Often attributed to Marlin, recent evidence indicates manufacture by Hopkins & Allen. See Chapter VIII-A for listing.
Marlin First Model Deringer
First Model Deringer Single Shot Pistol, a.k.a. “Baby 22” or (incorrectly) as the “Model 1863.” Made c. 1863 to 1867. Total quantity estimated as high as 4,000, but specimens do not appear as commonly as that number would seem to indicate. 22 caliber rimfire. 2-1/16" part round/part octagon barrel swings sideways for loading.
Brass frame with front section (area beneath barrel) fluted on sides. Frames often plated; barrels standard blued. Rosewood grips.
Top of barrel marked: J. M. MARLIN / NEW HAVEN, CT. Serial numbers mixed with other models.
These scarce pistols represent the first production of handguns by John Marlin. Features to note in addition to the above are the absence of sights and an extractor. Not a few unmarked deringers may be seen which are very similar to this model, but not having the small protruding plunger on the underside of the frame immediately to the rear of the pivot screw. They have not been established nor are considered as Marlin manufacture and are priced merely as inexpensive, unmarked single shot deringers:
5D-001
| 5D-001 | Values—Good $325 | Fine $800 |
Marlin O.K. Model Deringer
O. K. Model Deringer Single Shot Pistol. Made c. 1863 to 1870. Total quantity estimated at 6,000.
Calibers 22 and 30 rimfire; cal. 32 rare, worth premium. Part round/part octagon barrels vary from 2-1/8" (22 caliber) to 3-1/8" (32 caliber).
Brass frame with flat sides; barrel swings sideways to load; rosewood grips. Frames plated; barrels standard blued, but often plated also. Walnut or rosewood grips. A few known with square butt; very rare; worth premium.
Serial numbers mixed with other models. Right side of barrel marked: J. M. MARLIN/NEW HAVEN. CT. Top of barrel marked: O.K. Values approximately 15 percent less when unmarked or marked O.K. only.
In common with the “First Model” deringer, there was no extractor:
5D-002
| 5D-002 | Values—Good $275 | Fine $750 |
Marlin Square Butt O.K. Deringer See item 8A-104
Marlin Victor Model Deringer
Victor Model Deringer Single Shot Pistol. (Not illus.) Made c. 1870-1881. Total quantity estimated about 2,000. Identical in contours to the “O.K.” but larger in size.
Caliber 38 rimfire. 2-11/16" barrel, part octagon/part round; swings sideways for loading. Rosewood grips.
Flat sided brass frame. Finish either blued barrel with plain frame or full plated.
Serial numbers mixed with other models. Marking on right side of barrel: J. M. MARLIN/NEW HAVEN. CT./PAT. APRIL. 5. 1870. Top of barrel: VICTOR.
This model featured an extractor and the larger 38 caliber cartridge:
| 5D-003 | Values—Good $375 | Fine $1,400 |
Marlin Never Miss Deringer
Nevermiss Single Shot Deringer. Made c. 1870-1881. Total quantity estimated about 5,000.
Calibers 22, 32, and 41 rimfire. 2-1/2" round barrel swings sideways for loading.
Brass frames with fluted sides (on forward sections under barrels) similar to the First Model. All three sizes fitted with extractors. Finish either blued barrel with plated frame or full plated. Rosewood grips.
Serial numbered. Marked on right side of barrel: J. M. MARLIN/NEW HAVEN. CT./PAT. APRIL. 5. 1870. Top of barrel marked: NEVER MISS.
22 Caliber Size. Estimated quantity 900: